SCODRA being in circuit about an hundred mile came many times down the riuer by night and did much harme in the Turks campe for remedie whereof they were enforced to build certaine small gallies to keepe them in who for all that many times stole secretly vpon them and much troubled them The two and twentieth of Iune the Turkes mounted two great peeces of Ordinance vpon the top of the hill whereon the Bassa lay whereof the one carried a bullet made of an hard kind of round stone of three hundred pound weight and the other a bullet of foure hundred wherewith they began to batter the towne foure daies after that they placed a third peece of artillerie at the foot of the same hill which deliuered a bullet of foure hundred pound weight and the next day they planted a fourth peece greater than the rest about the middle of the same hill which carried a shot of six hundred and fiftie pound weight In this while eight thousand of the Turkes souldiours called Asapi which are knowne from the Ianizaries by their red caps whereas the Ianizaries weare white came into the campe And shortly after came Mahomet himselfe with all his armie to the riuer of Drimon whether the two great Bassaes of ASIA and CONSTANTINOPLE went with great pompe and triumph to meet him The second of Iuly Mahomet with all his armie before the rising of the Sunne came to the campe before SCODRA where after he had well viewed the situation thereof he is reported to haue said O what a faire and stately place hath the Eagle chosen out for her selfe to build her neast and to hatch her young ones in Diuers rich pauilions were set vp for Mahomet himselfe but one farre greater than the rest distant from them about a flight shoot which was the place wherein he held his counsell the other were for his owne priuat vse Round about these his tents lay the Ianizaries encamped a good distance off yet so close one to another as if it had been a perpetuall rampire or strong trench whereinto was but one entrance continually guarded with a most strong guard Round about the Ianizaries lay all the rest of the armie encamped so that all the countrey as farre as a man could see was couered and white with tents much like as when the ground in Winter is couered ouer with a deepe snow and still moe people resorted to the campe dayly so that it was dâ—emed by men of great experience that Mahomet had then in his armie of all sort of people about three hundred and fiftie thousand men all gaping to deuour that poore citie a sight of it selfe sufficient to haue daunted the courage of right valiant men But what can be terrible vnto them that feare not to die Against this terrour of the enemie the defendants were notably encouraged by the comfortable persuasions and exhortations of one Bartholomâ—us a preacher sometimes one of the worthie Scanderbeg his soldiors who afterwards giuing himselfe to the studie of diuinitie became a zealous preacher and in this siege did notably comfort the Christian defendants against the terrour of so great an armie of miscreants All this while the batterie was still maintained and the fifth of Iuly the Turks mounted two other great peeces whereof the one was like vnto the former before mounted but the other placed vpon the middle of the Bassaes mount was of an incredible greatnesse discharging a shot of twelue hundred pound weight and was called the Princes peece in whose name it was with much cunning and industrie made with which huge peece the Turkes euen from the beginning of the siege had threatened the besieged willing them to expect the comming of the Princes Peece The next day they planted vpon the same mount a seuenth peece which caried a shot of fiue hundred and fiftie pound weight from which time they battered the citie with the aforesaid seuen great peeces and ceased not oftentimes by night out of their great mortar peeces to cast great bals of wild fire into the citie so to haue set it on fire whereby diuers of the citizens were enforced to vncouer their houses couered with shingle and by men appointed for that purpose to watch the fall of such fireworkes and so to quench the same which they so carefully looked vnto as that the deuise of the enemie tooke none effect at all At the same time also the Turkes out of their short mortar peeces cast huge great stones of incredible weight which falling from high did most terribly crush in peeces whatsoeuer thing they light vpon wherewith the defendants were wonderfully troubled In few daies after the enemie mounted three other great peeces whereof one was greater than that was called the Princes and caried a bullet of thirteene hundred weight from which time they daily battered the citie with ten such peeces as the like hath seldome times been heard of and arrowes fell so thicke into the citie as if it had beene continuall-showers of haile so that no man could goe or well stirre in the streets without hurt Yet in the middest of alâ— these dangers the Christians valiantly defended the citie and with their deadly shot from the walâ— and mounts exceedingly annoied the enemie The eleuenth of Iuly the Turks mounted another great peece like vnto the former vpon the Bassaes mount and the same day battered the wals with 178 shot of this hugie artillerie Mahomet hauing by the furie of his great ordinance beaten downe a great part of the wall and that now nothing stood in his way but such simple repaires as the defendants had made of timber and plankes with earth cast in betwixt was in good hope in short time to become master of the towne and therefore sent certaine companies of his Ianizaries and other soldiors which he with continuall supplies of fresh men still releeued to assault the breaches so if it were possible to enter the towne or at leastwise to burne such fortifications of timber as the defendants had made But that which seemed vnto him at first so easie hee found in execution full of difficultie and danger for the Turkes approching the breach found there resolute men a surer defence than any wall whose valiant courage serued in stead of a strong bulwarke So whilest the Turks desperatly striue in the face of the breach either to enter or to set fire vpon the new fortifications made for most part of timber and the defendants with no lesse resolution doe what they may to the vttermost to repulse them many were on both sides slaine but especially of the assailants Which Mahomet well perceiuing and that by that manner of assault he gained nothing but notable losse and spoile of his best men caused a retreat to be sounded and his batterie to be againe forthwith renewed euery day shaking the wall with 160 or 180 most terrible great shot and one day with 194 which was the greatest batterie he made in one day during
few years before woon for example of the like exploit Of whose counsaile Baiazet liking well returned with his armie and shortly after came and sat downe therewith before CONSANTINOPLE laying hard siege thereunto first by land and after by sea with his gallies sent from CALLIPOLIS Which hard siege continued as most histories report the space of eight yeares in which long time hee draue the emperour Emanuell Palaelogus to that straight that he was glad to leaue his citie and himselfe in person to craue aid of Wenceslaus the Germane emperour and Charles the sixt the French king and other Christian princes also At which time the cittizens were at length brought to such extremitie that they were euen at the point to haue yeelded vp the cittie and happily had so done had not Sigismund king of HUNGARIE assisted with a great armie of the French and other voluntarie Christians almost out of euery part of Christendome to the number of an hundreth and thirtie thousand vnder the lâ—ading of Iohn countie of NIVERS after duke of BVRGUNDIE for the releefe of the besieged emperour passed ouer Danubius into the Turkish dominions and there hauing recouered VIDINA with certaine other strong holds in BULGARIA laied siege to NICOPOLIS out of which citie the Turks oftentimes sallied and gaue him many an hot skirmish It is reported that the young king Sigismund beholding the greatnesse of his armie in his great jolitie hearing of the comming of the Turke should proudly say What need wee to feare the Turke who need not at all to feare the falling of the heauens which if they should fall yet were we able with our speares and halberts to hold them vp for falling vpon vs. But Baiazet vnderstanding what spoile the Hungarian king had made in his late gained countries and of the siege of NICOPOLIS commaunded the ladders and other great prouision now in readinesse for the skaling and assaulting of the citie of CONSTANTINOPLE to be burnâ— because they should not come into the hands of the Christians and so raising his siege marched with a right puissant armie to NICOPOLIS sending Eurenoses before of purpose to intercept some of the Christians thereby to learne the state of their campe and armie But they hearing of his comming so well looked to themselues that he with shame returned to his master as he came without any one prisoner taken Which thing much troubled Baiazet as fearing he should haue to doe with a warie enemie Sigismund vnderstanding of the approch of Baiazet leauing a sufficient power for the continuing of the siege rose himselfe and with the rest of his armie went to meet his proud enemie Of whose comming and approch Baiazet vnderstanding diuided his armie into two parts being now come within the sight of the Christian armie made shew but of the one halfe keeping himselfe close in secret ambush not farre off with the other The Christians deeming themselues as they were farre moe in number than the Turks which they saw deuided their armie also into two parts purposing betwixt them to haue inclosed the Turks Of all the Christians that were there present the French desired to haue the honour of the first charge to be giuen vpon the Turks and in their heat vpon good hope set forward the Hungarians with a great part of the armie not yet set in order and so began the battaile where betwixt them and the Turks was fought a right cruell fight and in a little time many thousands slaine But this fight had not long endured when Baiazet with the other halfe of his armie suddenly arising came on with such violence as wel became his surname of Gilderun or lightning and so hardly charged the French that they amazed at the suddenesse of the danger and oppressed with the furie and multitude of the vnexpected enemie stood at the first as men dismaid but seeing no remedie encouraging one another valiantly fought it out vntill they were almost all either slaine or taken prisoners still in hope to haue been releeued by the Hungarians and the rest In this hard conflict diuers of the French horsemen hauing forsaken their horses fought on foot as their manner was which horses running backe without their riders vpon the Hungarians caused them to doubt that the French were quite ouerthrown wherewith dismaied they without further comming on all turned their backes and fled in so great hast as that it booted not the king or any other great commander to goe about to staâ—e their flight The French thus by their too much hast ouerthrowne the Turks pursuing the Hungarians and the rest of the Christians made of them a great slaughter of whom also many were drowned in the great riuer DANUBIUS At which time also the Turkes tooke so many prisoners that it was thought euerie seuerall Turke had his prisoner King Sigismund himselfe who but a little before had despised euen the falling of the heauens had then also vndoubtedly fallen into the enemies hands had hee not in a little boat by good hap got ouer DANVBIUS not vnlike another Xerxes who hauing couered the seas with his ships and with a world of men passed ouer into GRECIA was afterwards by the strange change of fortune himselfe alone in a small fisher boat glad to get backe againe into ASIA Sigismund being thus got ouer Danubius and fearing the violence of the Hungarians for the losse of the battaile fled by sea into THRACIA vnto CONSTANTINOPLE from whence he â—ailed vnto the Island of the RHODES and from thence sailing through the Aegean and Ionian sea landed at length in DALMATIA and so hauing wandered from place to place tossed with many fortunes after eighteene moneths long and painefull trauaile returned againe into HUNGARIE Where hee found the state of his kingdome in his absence much troubled the contrarie faction in the meane time hauing made choice of Ladâ—slaus king of NAPLES for their king who was euen theÌ„ with a great armie going to haue taken possession of the kingdome had not Sigismund in good time by the helpe of certaine of the cheefe of the Hungarian nobilitie preuented him In this battaile called the battaile of NICOPOLIS were of the Christians twentie thousand slaine and of the Turkes threescore thousand The countie of NIVIERS the French kings neere kinsman was there taken prisoner with three hundred great commaunders more where after he had indured great contumelie and reproch in the presence of Baiazet hee was commaunded to make choice of fiue other of the captiues such as he liked best all the rest being presently cut in peeces before his face and he with the other fiue left aliue sent prisoners to PRUSA from whence they were afterwards ransomed for two hundred thousand duckats This bloodie battaile of NICOPOLIS was fought in the yeere of our lord 1396. Baiazet after this great victorie hauing worthily releeued his besieged citie returned againe to the siege of CONSTANTINOPLE laying more hardly vnto it than before building
thousand of his best souldiors and with euery one of the other eight captaines seuen thousand moe departed himselfe with the rest of his armie from CROIA towards CONSTANTINOPLE But by the way as he went he tooke from Scanderbeg certaine small forts and with faire promises corrupting the Gouernour of a place called CHIDNA wherein eight thousand of Scanderbeg his souldiours lay had the same deliuered into his power vpon his faith before giuen That all the souldiours with the rest of the people should in safetie depart thence But after the tyrant had them in his power without regard of faith or promise hee caused them all most cruelly to bee cut in peeces sparing neither man woman nor child to the great greefe and weakening of Scanderbeg who had not at any time before receiued so great a losse And after hee had so raged hee in great melancholie returned vnto CONSTANTINOPLE Scanderbeg disdaining to haue his cheefe cittie besieged by Balabanus sometime one of the basest of his fathers subjects and yet finding himselfe vnable to releeue the same for as much as his souldiors were with continuall warres sore wasted and his warie enemies lay so encamped as that they were not but by a strong armie to bee remoued sent vnto the Venetians and other the confederat princes of ALBANIA ILLYRIA and DALMATIA praying of them aid now at his need against that enemie which preuailing against him would forthwith set vpon them All which princes promised forthwith to send their succours At the same time also hee passed ouer into ITALIE secretly and disguised in simple attire came to ROME to craue aid of Paulus the second of that name then great Bishop by whom he was honourably entertained but obtained nothing of that he came for so cold was his holy deuotion onely at his departure hee gaue vnto Iunetrio Scanderbeg his treasurer a poore almes of three thousand duckats Scanderbeg returning into EPIRVS found all such aid readie as was promised from the confederat princes but especially from the Venetians which was for most part drawne out of their garrisons of SCVTARI DRIVASTO ALYSSA and DIRRHACHIVM so that hee had in few daies in his armie thirteene thousand foure hundred choice soldiors With this strength he marched towards CROIA but vnderstanding by the way that Ionima was within a daies journey comming with a new supplie to his brother Balabanus hee drew out certaine troupes of his best horsemen and coasting ouer the countrey in the night suddainly came vpon the Turks and put them to flight where amongst others Ionima himselfe with his sonne Hedar were taken prisoners whom he shewed the next day in bonds to Balabanus This exploit so happily performed he with all speed returned to his armie and so marching to CROIA by plaine force driue the Turks from the mountain CRVINA their greatest strength and nearest to the citie of CROIA Which thing when Balabanus saw he with certaine troupes of horsemen rid euen to the gates of the cittie persuading the defendants to yeeld the citie making them in the name of his master such offers and promises as he thought might most moue them But they nothing regarding his words but rather incensed with his presumption sallied out vpon him and enforced him to retire but he therewith enraged and halfe mad for anger came vpon them with a fresh charge thinking by plaine force to haue driuen them backe into the citie In which skirmish he was by one Georgius Aâ—exius with a bullet shot quite through the throat and feeling himselfe mortally wounded setting spurres to his horse ran as fast as he could to his campe where he presently fell down from his horse and died The Turkes discouraged with the death of their Generall and the comming of Scanderbeg rise the same night and with great silence retired themselues vnto the plain of TIRANA about eight miles from CROIA Scanderbeg the next morning entring the forsaken tents of the Turks found therein great store of corne and other victuals which he caused to be forthwith conueyed into the citie and in great triumph followed after himselfe to the great joy and comfort of his late besieged subjects whom he highly commended for their fidelitie and bountifully rewarded according to their deserts The same day he sent certaine companies of souldiors to take the strait passages whereby the Turkes must needs passe in their returne out of EPIRVS which when the Turkes vnderstood they sent two messengers vnto Scanderbeg who seemed to be men of good account in the armie offering in the name of the rest of the captaines and commaunders to deliuer vnto him their horses and armes so that they might in safetie depart with their liues Which their request Scanderbeg propounding vnto his counsellors captaines was by them diuersly disgested In conclusion they receiued this answere from Scanderbeg himselfe That as they came into his country without his commandement so should they not by his leaue depart thence The Turkes receiuing this short answere by their messengers and considering that they must needs in that bare countrey in short time perish either with famine or with the sword the very same night departed from TIRANNA and in the dead time of the night entering the aforesaid straits by plaine force desperatly brake through and escaped but not without their great losse for whose escape the common souldiors murmured greeuously against Scanderbeg and were not without much ado appeased In short time after Scanderbeg recouered all such places as Mahomet had before taken from him and put to sword the soldiors he had left for the keeping of the same which done he brake vp his armie retaining only two thousand horsemen and a thousand foot for the defence of his frontiers The Turkish tyrant hearing of the euill successe of his affaires in EPIRVS as that his Generall was slaine CROIA releeued his armie discomfited and all that he had done brought to nought fretted thereat exceedingly and was therewith so much greeued that hee could not for a season eat or drinke or take rest his discontented thoughts so much troubled him In the end to remedie the matter he resolued the next Spring to goe againe in person himselfe with a most puissant armie into EPIRVS and so if it were possible to make a full conquest thereof of which his purpose Scanderbeg vnderstanding prouided for his comming as he had in former time The Spring being come Mahomet according to his former resolution with a mightie armie entred into EPIRVS and there with exceeding labour and charge first repaired or rather reedified the old ruines of the citie of VALMES wherein he left a strong garrison of purpose to trouble that part of the countrey From thence he marched to DIRRACHIVM now called DVRAZZO but of old time EPIDAMNVM a citie vpon the sea coast then in the possession of the Venetians famous for many things in the time of the Romane empire but especially for the flight of the Romane Senate thither and their
otherwise he regarded as was thought no religion at all But Zenus the Venetian embassadour lying continually in the Persian court so wrought the matter with Vsun-Cassanes that hee told the Turkes embassadours plainely That he could not nor would not longer endure the manifest injurie and wrong done vnto him by the Turkish king and farther that hee had made a faithfull league with the Christian princes and therefore would to the vttermost of his power make it knowne vnto the world that he would effectually performe what thing soeuer he had promised and so dismissed them now no lesse discontented than were before the Persian embassadours at such time as they returned from the Turkes court hauing obtained nothing they then requested concerning the emperour of TRAPEZOND The yeare following Mocenicus the Venetian Admirall with his fleet arriued in the Isle of LESBOS where he did great harme From thence hee passed the bay of ADRAMITTIVM into the lesser ASIA and sore spoiled the countrey about PERGAMVS After that hee landed againe at CNIDVS vpon the coast of CARIA where he tooke a great bootie and so hauing done the Turkes exceeding much harme in ASIA all alongst the sea coast opposit to GRaeCIA he returned laden with spoile towards PELOPONESVS In his returne about the promontorie of MALEA vpon the coast of PELOPONESVS he met with Richaiensis comming vnto him with seuenteene gallies from king Ferdinand by whom hee was certified that the great Bishops fleet was readie to come forth also After mutuall gratulation as the manner at sea is the Admirals joining their fleets in one landed at METHONE now called MODON then a citie of the Venetians in PELOPONESVS where after they had well refreshed their souldiours and taken in fresh victuals they put to sea againe and sailing through the Islands landed in ASIA where they were at their first landing encountered by the countrey Turkes whom at last they put to flight and by the space of foure daies tooke what pillage they could in the countrey where the souldiours found great store of rich bootie especially of Turkie carpets which are there made in great abundance From thence they sayled to HALICARNASVS which is a part of CARIA where sometime stood the stately tombe which queene Artemesia built for her husband Maâ—solus accounted amongst the wonders of the world where they tooke a wonderfull spoile There came vnto them Nicholas Bishop of MODRVSSA with twentie gallies sent from the great Bishop whom the other two Generals welcommed with great joy At the same time also came thither two gallies from the great master of the RHODES With this fleet of 85 gallies they sailed to the Isle of SAMOS oueragainst EPHESVS sometime a place of great fame but then altogether desolate and vnpeopled there to consult for their further proceeding in those warres Loosing from SAMOS they tooke their course alongst the coast of ASIA and landed at ATTALIA the cheefe citie of PAMPHILIA a place of great trafficke where they found in the suburbes of the cittie great store of many rich commodities brought thither out of AEGIPT and SYRIA whereof they tooke what pleased them and burnt the rest together with the suburbes Vnto the cittie it selfe they began to lay siege but perceiuing that it was not without great losse of their men to be taken they departed thence and running all alongst the coast of PAMPHILIA burnt and destroied what came in their way and so returned backe againe to the RHODES where they met an embassadour from Vsun-Cassanes the Persian king to the bishop and the Venetians for great ordinance whereof that so mightie a prince was altogether vnfurnished Of this embassador they vnderstood that Vsun-Cassanes was entered into league with the Christian princes and now busie in making preparation against the Turke At which time Mahomet requited the Venetians with no lesse harme in EPIRVS and DALMATIA than they had done to him in ASIA for now that Scanderbeg was dead the Turkes mightely preuailed vpon the weake princes of EPIRVS and ALBANIA with the countries adjoyning The Christian fleet departing from the RHODES landed in the countrey of the Myndians a part of CARIA and with great spoile returned to the Island of NAXOS one of the CYCLADES from whence king Ferdinand his gallies returned home laded with much rich spoile for now the yeare was farre spent Yet after the departure of the kings gallies Mocenicus with the Legate returned backe againe into ASIA and there landing their men tooke the famous citie of SMYRNA in IONIA and when they had taken the spoile thereof set it on fire At which time also they did great harme about CLAZOMENE not far from SMYRNA So Winter drawing now fast on they returned laded with the rich spoiles of ASIA the Legate into ITALIE and Mocenicus to METHONE The insatiable desire of soueraignetie whereunto the Turkish king was naturally enclined had continually armed him not onely against the Christian princes but against others also euen of his owne superstition making no great difference betwixt the one the other if so he might extend his dominion He had long before vnder the pretence of a friendly parley craftely circumuented the king of MYSIA a countrey in ASIA and hauing got him within his danger cruelly put him to death and by force subduing his kingdome left not one of the kings blood aliue After that he inuaded CILICIA which the Turkes call CARAMANIA where the two young brethren Pyramet and Cassambet raigned and draue them both out of CILICIA of whom Pyramet the elder fled for refuge to Vsun-Cassanes Cassambet the yonger assisted by his old friends sought by force of armes to recouer againe his inheritance wrongfully by the Turkes possessed and was besieging certaine townes vpon the sea coast which being taken from the Turkeâ— would easily draw all the rest of the kingdome after them Mocenicus the Venetian Admirall being now with the first of the Spring come vpon the coast of CILICIA at the request of Cassambet landed certaine companies of his men vnder the leading of Victor Superantius and certaine peeces of great artillerie wherewith he so battered the wals of SICHINVM that hee enforced the Turkes therein to yeeld vp the citie which he deliuered to Cassambet In like manner he tooke the citie of CORYCVS which he also restored to Cassambet At last hee laid siege to Sâ—LEVCIA which standeth vpon the riuer ORONTES and was built by king Seleucus one of the successors of Alexander the Great distant from the sea about fiue miles the Gouernour of this citie discouraged with the sight of the great artillerie deliuered the citie to the Venetian captain who by the appointment of the Admirall restored the same to Cassambet Who by this meanes brought againe into his kingdome gaue great thankes vnto the Admirall promising both for himselfe and for his brother to be alwayes friends vnto the Venetians Mocenicus departing from CILICIA landed his men in LYCIA and harried that countrey all
after they had giuen the first charge with their launces they would by and by with wonderfull actiuitie vse their bowes and arrowes casting their targuets behind them and forthwith the horsemans mace or crooked scimitar as the manner of the battaile or place required Their horses were strong and courageous in making and swiftnesse much like vnto the Spanish Iennets and that which is of many hardly beleeued so docible that at certaine signes or speeches of the rider they would with their teeth reach him vp from the ground a launce an arrow or such like thing and as if they had knowne the enemie run vpon him with open mouth and lash at him with their heeles and had by nature and custome learned not to be afraid of any thing These couragious horses were commonly furnished with siluer bridles guilt trapping rich saddles their neckes and breasts armed with plates of yron the horseman himselfe was commonly content with a coat of maile or a breastplate of yron The cheefe and wealthiest of them vsed headpieces the rest a linnen couering of the head curiously foulded into many wreathes wherewith they thought themselues safe ynough against any handie strokes the common souldiours vsed thrumd caps but so thicke as that no sword could pierce them Campson of all his armie made fiue battailes The first was committed to Cayerbeius because it was in his owne prouince where the battaile was to be fought The second was led by Sybeius who for his wonderfull actiuitie was of them called Baluano which in their language signifieth a tumbler or one that sheweth feats of actiuitie he was gouernour of DAMASCO a man of singular faith and valour These two great commaunders were appointed at once to charge both the wings of the Turkes armie After them followed Gazelles with the third battaile to second either the one or the other of the two formost as need should require Campson himselfe led the fourth all glistering in guilt armour behind the rest almost a mile and a halfe The last was left for defence of the campe But Selymus according to his wonted manner so ordered his battaile that his Asian horsemen were in the right wing his Europeian horsemen in the left his Ianizaries and artillerie in the maine battaile before whom in the middle betweene the two wings he had placed his most valiant and gallant pentioners amongst whom contrarie to his wonted custome he chose to serue that day Cayerbeius as soone as he was come neere the enemie in token of his braue courage gaue a hote charge vpon the Europeian horsemen and by and by as if hee would haue compassed in that wing wheeled a great way about behind them where chauncing vpon a great companie of scullions drudges and other base people that followed the campe with an infinit number of cammels and carriages hee made there a great stirre with little slaughter that as a valiant and cunning traitour he might in the selfesame time satisfie the expectation of his valour and of his treason together In the other wing the gouernour of DAMASCO to enter vpon the open side of the enemie forbearing to charge him afront and turning about his troupes on the left hand entred ouerthwart their rankes where the Mamalukes fought with such furie that hauing made great slaughter of the Asian horsemen they brake in amongst them as if it had beene a raging flood bearing all downe before them vntill they came to the ensignes in the middest of that wing neither could Mustapha the Beglerbeg who was by birth an Hungarian and Selymus his brother in law neither the Imbrahor-Bassa or master of the house although they did what they might to withstand him after the first were ouerthrowne stay the rest but that they would needs turne their backes and flie So Sybeius as a valiant conquerour hauing cut in two peeces the right wing of the enemies battaile and thrusting in betwixt the battaile of the footmen and the backes of the pentioners brought a great terrour and feare vpon the whole maine battaile The matter was now brought to extreame danger for Selymus by the breaking in of Sybeius was almost cut off from his footmen in whom he had reposed his greatest confidence And now the Ianizaries were hardly charged by Gazelles who following the fortune of Sybeius had set vpon the head of the enemies battaile The Asian horsemen also being put to the worse and cut in peeces found no meanes how to restore againe their disordered battaile In this extremitie Sinan Bassa in good time came in with his horsemen by his comming for that he had beene but lightly charged by Cayerbeius the traitour and had brought with him many fresh troupes of horsemen the furie of the Mamalukes was repressed the Turkes againe encouraged and the victorie shortly after wrung out of the Mamalukes hands the great artillerie being by the commaundement of Selymus at the same time discharged amongst them by the terrible thundring whereof the Mamalukes horses somewhat troubled could not so well as before be ruled neither could the men themselues although they were of wonderfull courage much preuaile being on euerie side oppressed with the multitude of their enemies Yet in that distresse being nothing dismaied although they were by Cayerbeius and their good fortune forsaken they were not to seeke either of courage or direction but seâ—â—ing themselues close togither they brake through the middest of their enemies with great slaughter of the European horsemen and hurt of the pentioners and so with speed fled towards the campe and citie After whom followed Sinan Bassa with the readiest and freshest troups of his horsemen for Selymus who that day in the extreame heat for his wonderfull paines courage and direction seemed vndoubtedly greater than himselfe riding vp and downe called earnestly vpon his souldiours to vrge the victorie and with all speed to pursue their flying enemies Campson had now his destinie so leading him set forward of purpose to come to the reliefe of his men sent before or if the Turks should be ouercome to be partaker of the victorie when vpon the way he vnderstood by them that fled that Cayerbeius was reuolted his armie ouerthrowne and the terrour so great as that the flight of his souldiours was not now possibly to be staied beside that to augment the feare it was reported that the multitude of his enemies and force of their artillerie was so great that they were not then to bee encountred With which heauie newes the proud old man who in the perpetuall course of his good fortune had neuer tasted of euill hap was readie for sorrow and griefe of mind to haue sunke downe to the ground And forthwith his owne men and the enemie pursuing them comming vpon him who in their headlong course without regard ouerthrew whomsoeuer they met euerie man making shift for himselfe without respect of others harmes he being a corpulent man of great yeares and beside the heauinesse of his armour troubled
vnâ—o him his chiefe commaunders quickly told them what he would haue done Now in this short moment of time he was to doe many things at once the signall was to be giuen for the souldiours to mount their horses and to make themselues readie the order of his campe was to bee changed his battell to be ordered his souldiours to be encouraged and all his great ordinance as the case required quite contrarie way to be turned all which things as they could but hardly and troublesomely by one commaunder be directed so were they hastily and disorderedly at once done by many But aboue all other things the great concourse of people for turning and remouing the great artillerie most troubled the well ordering of the rest for many of them were hugâ—e yron pieces of great waight made fast in stocks of wood with rings and yron claspes after the old and rude manner of ship ordinance which for their exceeding ponderous waight could not be out of their places remoued but by the strength of many horses and the great labour of men with leauers and roules put vnder them and such as were mounted vpon carriages when they were drawne through all parts of the campe with the great clamor of the disordered and hastie people some drawing some thrusting forward the same with their tumultuous stirre and doings wonderfully troubled the other souldiors as they were mounting to horse and repairing toward their ensignes But two things maruellously helped these difficulties the soldiors cheerefulnesse and constancie which was such as passeth credit For they did not vpon any apprehension of feare faile either in hope or courage as oftentimes it happeneth in suddaine accidents wherein euen the old approued souldiors doe many times faile of their wonted valor And although they were twice ouercome in battell yet still they were of greater spirit confidence as men destitute neither of courage or skill but onely of fortune Wherefore Tomombeius hauing with much adoe ordered his battell and his souldiors with great cheerefulnesse desiring the signall to be giuen commaunded all the multitude of his Arabians to compasse in the wings of the enemies battell behind and so to skirmish with them that so if it were possible the Turkes horsemen might with the danger of the doubtfull fight with such an vncertaine enemie be disordered before he set forward to charge them with his troupes and withall commaunded his great ordinance which was now turned vpon the enemie to be presently discharged So did the Turks likewise discharging at once from a conuenient distance both their greater and smaller ordinance and speedily recharging them brought them within an arrow shot so that for a good space they lay beating the one the other on both sides with their great artillerie onely in which manner of fight the Aegyptian canoniers were almost all slaine and many of their fieldpieces broken by force of the enemies shot For Selymus had in his camp many excellent and skilfull canoniers whom he had with great entertainement allured out of ITALIE and GERMANIE and especially of those refuce Iewes which by the zeale of king Ferdinand being driuen out of SPAINE afterwards to the shame of the Christians dispersed those rare and deadly deuices through the East The cheefe of these canoniers was one Iacobus è Regio Lepidâ— a cunning enginer who but a little before ouercome by the Turks rewards abjuting the Christian religion reuolted vnto the Mahometane superstition But after that the Mamalukes had brought the matter to battell on both sides they gaue out a most hideous and dreadfull crie and with exceeding furie assailed the Turkes in three places for Selymus still keeping his wonted order approched his enemies with his battell in forme of an halfe Moone Mustapha Bassa had the leading of the Asian horsemen in the right wing and Ionuses Bassa of the Europeians in the left he himselfe stood in the maine battell with the squadron of his trustie Ianizaries and great store of artillerie but Sinan the Eunuch Bassa generall of the field led after him a great number of most valiant horsemen drawne out of euery troupe to be readie against all the vncertaine euents that might happen in the battell vnto whom hee joyned fiue hundred harquebusiers Ianizaries men of wonderfull courage and actiuitie selected out of Selymus his owne squadron to relieue such part of the armie as should chance to be most pressed by the enemie So almost at one time whilest Tomombeius stood in the maine battell against Selymus and the wings of the Mamalukes with equall battell encountred the wings of the Turkes and the Arabians also valiantly charging them in the rereward as they had in charge foure sharpe battels were at once made in diuers places It is reported by some that were present in that battell that what for the clamour and crie of souldiors what for the noise of drums and trumpets and such like instruments of warre what for the thundering of ordinance clattering of armour and rising of the dust all mens minds were so confounded and abashed that running on headlong as men furious and desperat when neither their speeches could be heard their tokens knowne their ensignes seene or captaines vnderstood mistaking one another in that hurly burly they slew many of their friends in steed of their enemies for neuer battels met together with greater hatred neither did euer two great kings with lesse care of their persons and safetie more resolutely or desperatly make shew of their strength and courage For both of them with like danger both of themselues and of their armies seeing plainly that they had put both their liues and kingdomes to the hazard of a battell promised vnto themselues no other hope of safetie but what they should obtaine by victorie Gazelles desirous both of honour and of reuenge to require the Europeian horsemen with like slaughter as he had before receiued from them not far from GAZA with wonderfull furie assailed Ionuses Bassa and at the first encounter brake his first rankes and ouerthrew certain of his guidons at which time the Arabians pressing couragiously in at their backes enforced those victorious troupes which in all battels had hitherto carried away the prise the very flower of THRACIA THESSALIA EPIRVS MACEDONIA and GRaeCIA to flie and shew their backes which neuer enemie had before that time seene At which time Siâ—â—n Bassa carefully attending euery accident came speedily in with his most valiant troupes of fresh men vpon the side of the enemie and restored againe the battell now declining and foulely disordered But whiles Sinan who in this his last worthie labour had interrupted the manifest victorie of Gazelles was with an inuincible courage valiantly fighting in the head of his battell he was by the comming in of the courageous captain Bidon with his Mamalukes ouercharged and slaine His most valiant followers also labouring to rescue and carrie away his dead bodie were by Gazelles vnfolding his troupes that standing
Mahometes had put his cheefe substance into certaine boats to be conueyed downe the riuer as purposing to flie and would not hold out the siege aboue three dayes As for the forrest they thought it would well ynough be passed thorow if they would couragiously set forward Beside that the time of the yeare suffered no delay Winter comming so fast on that except some notable thing were done quickly they should be enforced by the very time of the yeare to returne with shame without doing any thing This opinion was best liked of as more honourable and better beseeming men of valour than to lie still in one place whereupon the next day the armie remoued and in good order marched thorow the forrest Which thing Mahometes quickly perceiuing presently sent forth a thousand light horsemen and certaine companies of the Ianizaries harquebusiers to trouble the Christians in their passage who by a neerer and well knowne way ouertaking the armie suddenly charged the rereward wherein the Italians and Bohemians marched The Bohemians quickly fled and the Italians with much adoe endured the charge but being relieued by the Carinthian men at armes they notably repulsed the Turks and put them to flight So the armie with small losse passed the forrest and came to the place they desired where after they had encamped themselues and in good order placed all things needfull for the siege they in seemely order offered vnto the enemie battell But he keeping himselfe within the towne shot at the Christians with his great ordinance and they to requite him with two great pieces which they had placed vpon the rising of a hill shot thorow both the wals of the towne and the bulwarke also to the great terrour of the defendants The Christians in the meane time hauing stood almost all the day in order of battell in the sight of the enemie vainely expecting when he should come forth to giue them battell returned at night into their campe For Mahometes vpon great consideration kept in his soldiors although they were most desirous to fight vnderstanding right well of the want of victuall in the Christian campe and beside that as the fugitiues reported being straightly commanded by letters from Solyman that he should not vpon paine of a most shamefull death forsake the place but to defend it to the last Now the Christians desirous of battell being thus delaied and deceiued of their expectation had in a few dayes spent the small store of victuals they had and began to feele a generall want neither was there any apparent meanes how they should be releeued so that euery man began to feare some generall mischeefe to ensue When Balthasar Pamphilus a noble Hungarian and a captaine of great experience sitting in counsell with the rest entred into this speech Captaines said he we doe all that we doe vnaduisedly for whilest we consult at large how wee may ouercome our enemies the strength of our armie is in the meane time so weakened for want of victuall that the souldiors are neither well able to stand on their legs nor to hold their weapons in their feeble hands and generally euen they which are of greatest courage begin now to quaile and despairing of battell see that they must miserably and shamefully perish for want Wherefore in my opinion we ought first and aboue all things most speedily to prouide for this want which so greeuously pincheth vs and presently to remooue hence vnto the castle of HERMANDE that with the prouision thereof which is not like to be little we may refresh our whole armie and so releeued to proceed further as occasion shall require This castle was about ten miles distant from EXEK whereinto many of the Turks had conueyed their wiues and children and cheefest substance being kept with a small garrison of twentie Turks Fast by the castle was a pretie little walled towne without flankers after the manner of the old fortifying which towne and castle Balthazer said would easily be taken This his counsell was well liked of all men and he himselfe sent with certaine companies of souldiors to take the towne Wherein fortune so fauoured him that it was at his first comming surrendered vnto him but when he had it he â—ound not therin any such store of corne or victuall as he had hoped for yet he tooke there certaine vessels of wine to the great reliefe of the weake souldiors Vpon the newes of the taking of this towne the campe remoued from EXEK about ten a clocke in the night but so disorderly that the souldiors scarce knowing their owne ensignes seemed rather to haue fled for feare than marched for spoile yet the Turkes for all that moued not out of EXEK misdoubting some deceit and loath to attempt any thing rashly in the night When the armie was come to the towne the captains tooke order that the victuall there found was equally deuided amongst the souldiors and the next morning batterie laid against the castle which those few Turkes valiantly defended halfe a day and then by composition yeelded it But when the castle was taken there was found in it but two barrels of meale and other two of millet Then might a man haue seene the captains themselues hanging their heads as men strucken with a sudden feare who in steed of a great prey victuall to haue serued many daies found nothing but a few women and children and scarce so much victuall both in the towne and castle as would serue the army two daies Yet they dissembled the matter and fed the souldiors with hope of better store after the bridge were once repaired that they might passe the riuer of Bodrog which ran by the town which bridge the Turks had before for defence of themselues broken by plucking vp of certaine piles and taking away of the planks wherefore the Carpenters being set on worke and euerie man putting to his helping hand the bridge was with continuall labour in three daies repaired The fourth day the wagons and smaller pieces of ordinance passed ouer the bridge and after them six of the great pieces for batterie but the bridge ouercharged with the seuenth which was of a wonderfull waight and much greater than the rest began to breake so that the captaines were enforced to breake that faire piece of ordinance and so by pieces to carrie it away that the enemie should not get so great a spoile All things being thus well passed ouer the piles were againe cut downe and the plancks strucke off to the intent the enemie should not that way pursue them and other way was there none but to fetch a compasse about the great lake which was many miles about Here the captaines began to consult whether it were best to breake the great pieces of ordinance that so they might more speedily march away or not Of which opinion was Cazzianer himselfe promising of his owne charge to new cast them As for the scaling ladders and such other
king Ferdinand her enemie They passing ouer Danubius tooke the citie of VACIA being but badly defended for king Ferdinand and putting many to the sword after the manner of their barbarous crueltie burnt the citie From thence they remoued to PESTH which was so valiantly defended by Barcocius and Fotiscus the one a Hungarian captaine the other a German that the Turkes despairing of the winning of the citie and not well relieued with victuall by the queene then fearing future want passed againe ouer Danubius and faithfully restoring the great ordinance without any more doing returned againe into their owne countries but in their retiring the Hungarians by the leading of Ferentius Gnarus slew many of them amongst whom was one Achomates one of their best and valiantest captaines King Ferdinand aduertised of the Turks departure returned again to his old hope of recouering the kingdome persuading the emperor his brother not to giue ouer the war so fortunatly begun especially now that the Turkes hauing forsaken the queene were departed and gone Wherefore the new forces lately before raised in AVSTRIA BOHEMIA SILESIA and MORAVIA for the supply of Velsius his armie were presently sent into HVNGARIE vnder the leading of the Lo. William Rogendorff steward of the kings house who was then gone as farre as POSSONIVM to haue relieued them of PESTH vnto whom as a more auntient and honourable Generall Velsius gaue place He furnished with these new supplies three moneths victuall and great artillerie from VIENNA joyning with the old armie marched directly to BVDA and laid siege vnto it Ouer against the stately castle of BVDA wherein the queene lay was a great hill called S. Gerrards mount so high that the middle thereof was equall with the highest place of the castle and from the top thereof they might looke into the streets of the citie betwixt which hill and the castle was a great valley and a deepe ditch vpon this hill Rogendorff to beat the castle and to terrifie the queene planted his batterie and so shooke a new built tower thereof that it was thought it would haue suddenly fallen which if it had yet was it supposed a dangerous matter to assault it because it was walled about with a treble wall But the sumptuous turrets and princely galleries of the kings pallace in the castle which euerie man saw Rogendorff might haue beaten downe with his great ordinance he spared but whether of himselfe or else commaunded by the king as loath to destroy so goodly buildings as could not without great charges be in long time againe repaired was vncertaine Wherfore by diuers heraulds sent vnto the queen he wished her to breake in sunder those giues and fetters wherein the bishop vnder the colour of protection had fast bound her sonne and her and to accept of king Ferdinands offer who was readie to bestow vpon her a goodly seignorie wherein she might most honourably liue at quiet and bring vp her sonne in safetie Which thing if she as a simple woman and ignorant of her owne danger should refuse and obstinately contemne the perill wherein she stood he would forthwith in most terrible manner beat downe the pallace about her eares Whereunto the bishop in the queenes behalfe answered That she was not such a foole as to exchange the kingdome of HVNGARIE for the principalitie of SEPVSIA and that she thought Rogendorff a verie doting and mad old man who being once before well beaten in those ditches came now again like a foole to receiue his vtter destruction in full guerdon of his rash folly Wherfore he should cease to terrifie valiant men fighting with discretion for their naturall king and countrey against his drunken companie for that they were nothing troubled with the noise of his great shot But yet he said that he would aboue all the rest by way of priuat courtesie gently request Rogendorff to discharge his pieces with a little lesse noise because he had a sow at home great with pigs which terrified with the thundring of his guns would farrow he doubted before her time to the griefe of his guests For the bishop was of a sharpe and taunting spirit and such a contemner of the Germans that when two of them were taken in the kings orchards burning certaine houses he in derision caused two hogs to be hanged vpon the same gallowes with them Not long after Rogendorff remoued his campe from the mount of S. Gerrard to a more conuenient place for the battering of the citie called the Iewes graues neere vnto the gate called the Iewes gate Which thing the bishop seeing after his quipping manner requested of Rogendorff to pardon him in that he had of late wrongfully called him a doting old man for that in remouing his campe into a more commodious place he seemed to be a proper wise man and of good discretion now that he had pitched his tents in a most fit place amongst the dead both for himselfe being an old man and almost worne with vaine labour and for his armie there condemned to die with him Rogendorff thus encamped begun in two places to batter the wals Perenus and the Hungarians with the Bohemians neere vnto the gate called SABATINA in one place and hee himselfe with the Germans betwixt the Iewes gate and the castle in another which was done with such violence that a great part of the wall was beaten downe another part therof ouercharged with earth which the defendants had cast vp on the inner side for the strengthning therof was at the same time born quite out and so fell downe to the wonderfull dismaying of all that were in the citie Which faire opportunitie to haue taken the citie Rogendorff let slip either not well aware thereof by reason of the great smoke of the artillerie on both sides and the dust arising with the fall of the wall which couered all or else according to his naturall disposition doing all things leasurely and suspitiously so that a little delay bereft him of the present apprehension of so sudden a resolution and the Germans vsed more to standing battels than to assault were not to be so easily brought on to assault the breach vpon the sudden as were the Spaniards Italians or French The wall was opened in that place almost two hundred paces in length yet standing almost the height of a man which might easily haue been scaled with short ladders but night was now comming fast on wherein the Germans would not willingly attempt any dangerous matter so that the assault was deferred vntill the next morning Whereas they of BVDA in the meane time taking the aduantage of the enemies delay with incredible diligence and labour in that night raised vp a new rampier in steed of the wall that was fallen euerie man without exception putting his hand to the worke In the morning the Germans comming to the breach gaue such a fierce assault vnto the new made rampier that Otho Fotiscus desperatly entered
fleet but to serue Barbarussa his own turne But Solyman hauing diligently heard and deeply considered of that the Bassaes had said rejected their opinions who would not he should haue giuen the French king aid and honorably decreed according to his promise whatsoeuer should ensue thereof to send his fleet vnto the king by Barbarussa Two daies after the French embassadour before in dispaire but now reuiued with that decree was solemnly feasted by Rustan Bassa Solymans sonne in law and by Solyman the eunuch Bassa for so it was their Great masters pleasure both of them joying of him for the friendship confirmed betwixt the two princes by sending this fleet After which diuers gifts were bestowed vpon the embassadour and his chiefe followers and at such time as he was to take his leaue Solyman gaue him great charge of his nauie that it might be safely kept and so after the seruice done againe returned and withall deliuered him letters vnto king Francis wherin after the glorious rehearsall of his proud titles he writ vnto him as followeth We haue vpon a brotherly bountie granted vnto Polinus your embassadour such and so great a fleet as you haue desired thorowly furnished for all assaies whose direction we haue commaunded Hariaden our Admirall to follow and by your appointment to proceed against the enemie But you shall doe well and friendly the wars once happily ended to send backe againe my fleet to CONSTANTINOPLE All things shall vndoubtedly fall out according to your owne desire and mine if you shall carefully take heed that Charles the Spanish king your perpetuall enemie doe not againe deceiue you with the motion of a deceitfull peace For then shall you bring him to a most indifferent peace when you haue before brought vpon his countries all the calamities of warre Polinus taking his leaue of Solyman then lying at HADRIANOPLE returned to CONSTANTINOPLE where he found Barbarussa with an hundred and ten gallies and fortie galliots readie to put to sea which he had with incredible celeritie rigged vp and furnished And so setting forward the eight and twentith of Aprill in the yeare 1543 and passing the straits of HELESPONTVS he arriued first at CARISTIVS in EVâ—oeA and from thence to MALEA where he was by contrarie winds cast into the bay of LACEDEMON and there staied nine daies before he could double the cape of METAPANIVM called in auntient time TENARVS After that he came to METHON and from thence crossing the Ionian came to the strait of MESSANA where the Turkish pirats being come with their galliots within the sight of RHEGIVM began to land their men They of RHEGIVM seeing so great a fleet and the Turkes alreadie landing fled out of the citie for feare but the castle was still kept by Didacus Gaietanus a Spaniard who refused to haue any parley with Polinus the French embassadour and with shot out of the castle slew certaine of the Turks wherewith the rest being enraged brake into the citie and finding it desolat set it on fire sore against the will of Polinus and Barbarussa who sought to haue found out the authors thereof and to haue punished them accordingly After that certaine pieces of great ordinance were landed and planted against the castle which with a few shot so terrified the captaine alreadie troubled with the crying out of his wife that he without any more adoe yeelded himselfe and the castle with all therein into the hands of the enemie vnto whom with his wife and children Barbarussa at the request of the French embassadour granted both life and libertie the rest he shut vp in a church and gaue the spoile of the castle to his souldiors There was in the garrison of the castle about seauentie Spaniards but many mo citisens which were all carried away prisoners One of the captaines daughters a young gentlewoman of exceeding beautie had with her good grace so warmed the withered affection of the old pirat Barbarussa that he now fitter for the graue than for marriage became amorous of her person so that taking her from her father and entring her into the Mahometane superstition he made of her as of his wife Insomuch that certaine moneths after he welcomed and bountifully entertained the captaine as his father in law comming to see his daughter at the port called PORTVS HERCVLIS in TVSCANIE where the Turks fleet then lay Barbarussa sayling alongst the coast of ITALIE came to OSTIA in the mouth of the riuer Tibur and brought such a feare vpon the citie of ROME that the citisens were readie generally to haue forsaken the citie had not Polinus by his letters to Rodolphus the cardinall then the great bishop Paulus his legat in the citie in part staied the sudden tumult The bishop himselfe was then at BVXETVM a towne betwixt CREMONA and PLACENTIA trauelling in shew with the emperour to haue made a peace betwixt him and the French king but labouring in secret to haue bought of him the dukedome of MILLAN for Octauius his kinsman the emperours sonne in law Polinus his letters written to the cardinall at ROME and sent by the Gouernour of TARRACINA were to this effect The fleet which is by Solyman sent for the defence of FRANCE by Barbarussa his Admirall is by his â—ppointment at my commaund so that it is not to hurt any but our enemies Wherefore make it knowne to the Romans and others dwelling alongst the coast of the Popes territorie that they feare of vs no hostilitie For the Turkes will neuer violat the faith of their emperour solemnly giuen vnto me and you know most assuredly that the French king desireth nothing more than that the estate of ROME might not only be kept in safetie but also flourish most gloriously and be therefore preserued from all iniurie Fare you well In like manner he also comforted vp them of NEPTVNIANVM and OSTIA so that they brought vnto the Turks all manner of victuall and sometimes for foure sheepe or a couple of oxen redeemed a good prisoner taken in some place of the kingdome of NAPLES Yet for all this the Romans did not so much credit the embassadours promise in the behalfe of the Turkes good dealing but that many of the weaker sort fled out of the citie into the countrey by night although the chiefe magistrates did what they might to haue staied them When Barbarussa had thus lieâ— three daies in the mouth of the riuer of Tiber and there watered he passed alongst the coast of ETRVRIA and LIGVRIA without doing any harme and so sailed directly to MARâ—â—ILLâ—S Where leauing him with his fleet for a while expecting the French kings farther pleasure we will againe returne vnto Solyman who at the same time that Barbarussa was spoiling the frontiers of the emperours dominions in ITALIE came with a great armie into HVNGARIE for the more assured possession of that kingdome whereafter he saw king Ferdinand so much longed And because he would make all sure before him he
the citie yet left aliue should in safetie enjoy their liues libertie and goods with the free exercise of the Christian religion That the Gouernour with the rest of the captaines and souldiors might in safetie depart with bag and baggage and at their departure to take with them fiue great pieces of ordinance and three horses which soeuer it should please them to make choise of and that the Turkes should safely conduct them into CRETE finding them both victuall and shipping all which things were with more kindnesse promised than with fidelitie performed Yet all these matters agreed vpon and conceiued into writing as also by solemne oath on both sides confirmed the Gouernour sending a messenger before requested that he might haue leaue to come to see the Bassa and to deliuer vnto him the keyes of the citie Leaue being granted Bragadinus the Gouernour Baleonius Andreas Bragadinus Laurentius Theupolus earle of PAPHOS Io. Anthonius Quirinus Aloysius Martinengus with a great sort of other captaines came into the campe but before they entred into the Bassaes pauillion they were commaunded to deliuer their weapons which they all did At the first meeting Mustapha entertained them courteously and with many glorious words as if it had beene in admiration extolled their worthie valour and courage saying that he was glad now to know them by face whose valiant minds he had before knowne by their most valiant deeds Now prowesse and valour seemed not onely in safetie but also honoured euen of the enemie when after a long discourse the false Bassa reuolued vnto the mischeefe and trecherie he had before resolued vpon complaining that certaine of his men taken at the siege had beene afterward against all reason and order slaine Which the Gouernour and the rest vtterly denying he start vp as in a rage and with high words and sterne countenance vrging the fact commaunded them all to be forthwith cast in bonds and so bringing them out of his pauillion in the sight of the armie contrarie to his oath and promise caused them all to be slaine At which time Bragadinus and Theupulus were oftentimes commaunded to lay downe their heads to haue had them strucke off yet was their execution deferred and their liues reserued not to saue them but with more exquisit punishment and torture to satisfie the barbarous crueltie of the faithlesse and vnmercifull tyrant The next day after Bragadinus hauing his eares before cut off in despight was brought forth to be wondered at and tortured with the most extreamest kind of torture that tyrannie it selfe could haue deuised for despoyled of his jewels and attire and a basket layed vpon his shoulders filled with earth he was enforced oftentimes to carrie the same to repaire the rampiers that were ouerthrowne and euer as he passed by the proud Bassa insulting vpon him to fall downe and to kisse the ground at his feet and so buffeted with the Turks fists and spurned as a dog with their feet was in great derision and despight asked Whither he hoped that Christ his God would come to helpe him or not Which indignitie of it selfe bitter and miserable the dignitie of the man made much more miserable whose comely and stately countenance with his long and reuerend beard euen in that extreame miserie added vnto him a certaine majestie and grace In this so foule a sight of vertue troden vnderfoot the poore Christians could neither well stay their teares nor let them fall for feare of the displeasure of the Turks But the forsworne Bassa not onely forgetfull of all humanitie but enraged rather with extreame crueltie caused that noble and woorthie Bragadinus to be fet in a chaire and his skin to be flaine off from him quicke a punishment vnworthie of him that suffered it but most worthie him that inflicted the same Yet in so great and horrible a torture he was not heard to let fall any word not beseeming a faithfull Christian and the honour of his countrey onely he called vpon God for mercie and detested the Turks perfidious trecherie and so breathed out his life But the tyrant worthie eternall infamie not satisfied with the torture of the liuing man caused the head to be cut from the dead bodie and vpon the point of a speare to be set vp on an high place for all men to looke vpon His skin also stuffed with chaffe he caused to be hanged vp at the yards arme and so to bee carried about not so true a trophie of his victorie as a testimonie of his perfâ—lious and Turkish crueltie Two dayes after countie Theupolus after he had beene most shamefully entreated full of the markes of the Turks crueltie was to make an end withall shamefully hanged in the market place With what crueltie the Bassa had tyrannized vpon the nobilitie with the same he also raged vpon the meaner sort of the citisens of whom some he slew some he chained in the gallies and carried away the rest into bondage Three hundred Christians some souldiors some citisens which came forth with the Gouernour to see the Turkes campe were there also all slaine Nestor Martinengus a famous captaine escaped the tyrants hands being hidden by one of the Bassaes eunuchs who by the helpe of a Greeke fisherman got to LEPTIS and from thence to CRETE and so afterwards to VENICE where he faithfully reported to Aloysius Moceniâ—us the duke the whole processe of that warre with the losse of the citie and that in the space of threescore and ten daies there was aboue an hundred and fortie thousand great shot discharged against the citie Such noblemen and gentlemen as escaped out of this so generall a slaughter banished their countrey and in miserie dispersed without hope of returne led afterward a miserable and vagrant life though some of them euen at this day as I haue beene credibly enformed are by the Venetian state right well maintained The countrey people and artificers were generally by the Turks spared for the peopling of the countrey This was the fatall ruine of CYPRVS one of the most fruitfull and beautifull islands of the Mediterranean the losse wherof not without cause grieued many Christian princes as sometime a kingdome of it selfe and now a prouince of the Turkish empire our sinnes or the euill agreement of Christian princes or both the cause thereof I know not neither if I did durst I so say Whilest Mustapha yet lay at the siege of FAMAGVSTA the other two great Bassaes Partaâ—â— and Haly the one the Admirall and the other Generall of the souldiors appointed by Selymus for the keeping of the sea that no releefe should be sent by the Venetians to FAMAGVSTA and further as occasion serued to infest their dominions about the middest of May arriued in EVBoeA with two hundred and thirtie gallies whether Vluzalis viceroy of ALGIERS with diuers other the Turks notable pyrats resorted vnto them with their gallies With this fleet departing from EVBoeA and sayling alongst the coast of MYSIA
written that the great Visier Sinan and the Bassa his sonne are of opinion that the emperour is brought to so low an ebbe that he must be glad to accept of most hard and dishonourable conditions of peace propounded by them therein they erre much and deceiue themselues farre for by the power of God they should shortly by experience know that his imperiall majestie wanteth neither power nor wealth to repaire the losse receiued through the treason of them he trusted yea and to recouer whatsoeuer he had lost else and that it should in short time be witnessed vnto the whole world by the helpe of God and the defence of a most just cause that the emperour was not so poore and weake as they supposed him to be Yet as he of his owne naturall goodnesse and clemencie with his own incomparable losse and harme had alwaies sought for the quiet and profit of his subjects and to the vttermost of his power staied the effusion of innocent bloud so now also forgetting all injuries he could happily be content to thinke of an honourable peace whereunto he was more enclined than to protract the warre with the vnspeakable harmes of the subjects on both sides Yet aboue all things it behooued Sinan to know that he was to restore all such castles and townes as haue in this warre been taken by the Turks beginning at WIHITZ in CROATIA euen to the last innocent subject by them carried away into captiuitie And that the Transyluanians Moldauians and Valachians people many ages joyned and vnited as inseperable members to the kingdome of HVNGARIE as vnto the true bodie and now of late by the practise and treacherie of certaine rebellious persons seperated from the same were from henceforth to be left vnder the protection and gouernment of his imperiall majestie and neuer more to be impugned by the Turkes If these things were done and order taken that the injurie and disgrace done vnto the emperours late embassadour a fact that all the princes of the world cried shame of might not remaine vnpunished and that his seruants in durance at BVDA and CONSTANTINOPLE might be restored vnto their wonted libertie then some good forme of peace and bounding of their territories might happily be agreed vpon without which conditions all talke of peace was but vaine for that God the just and mightie protectour of such as put their trust in him would not faile to helpe his imperiall majestie with the rest of the confederat princes in their so just a quarrell and abate the pride of such as trust in their owne strength and power This answere the captiues at BVDA were commaunded to giue vnto the Bassa either by writing or by word of mouth and withall earnestly to request him both for their owne libertie and their fellowes wrongfully detained at CONSTANTINOPLE Which if it could not be obtained yet to comfort themselues with that that they should in bounteous manner receiue from the emperour such allowance as should suffice to prouide them all things necessarie as he had granted to Perling whom he might haue justly detained and not sent him backe againe but for his oaths sake being no lawfull prisoner Thus were the vnreasonable conditions of peace craftily by the Bassa propounded by others answered but by whom he knew not no mans name being set thereunto The emperour not ignorant with what an enemie he had to doe and of nothing more carefull than of the kingdome or more truely to say of the reliques of the kingdome of HVNGARIE lying now as it were in the lyons mouth ceased not to pray aid not of the princes electors onely but of others also farther off yea euen as farre as ITALIE and SPAINE but especially of the king of POLONIA as his neere alliance and neighbour Vnto whom both he and the States of HVNGARIE sent their embassadours at such time as he moued with the daily incursions of the Turkes and Tartars into the countries adjoyning vpon his had for the safetie of his owne kingdome called a parliament of all his States in Februarie last at CRACOVIA Whereof Mahomet the Great Turke hearing sent also two of his chiefe Chiaus his vsuall embassadours vnto the king and his States so assembled to craue his aid in his warres in HVNGARIE which if the king should not refuse then to promise him to want no coine to pay his souldiors and that Mahomet mindfull of so great a courtesie would at all times be readie to requite him with like when his occasions should require These embassadours hauing obtained safe conduct from Michael the Vayuod of VALACHIA for their passage through his countrey comming thither were by the Vayuod himselfe honourably entertained and welcomed and so brought into a faire lodging where they discoursed with him of many matters But the Vayuods followers grieued to see so great honour done to these their sworne and mortall enemies with weapons in their hands brake into the roume where the embassadours were and without more adoe slew them both and in the same furie setting vpon the rest of the Turkes their followers cut them all in pieces so that of them none came into POLONIA to do their Great masters message either yet returned to CONSTANTINOPLE to carrie newes of the rest but there altogither perished Of which outrage Mahomet yet vnderstanding was therewith wonderfully enraged threatning all euils both to the Moldauians and Valachians and forthwith sent out other embassadours to the same purpose who with better fortune afterwards in safetie arriued in POLONIA The Tartars in many places as is before declared ouerthrowne and many strong castles and forts taken from the Turkes by the Transyluanians Valachians and Moldauians the Turkish affaires going to wracke in those quarters and sore shaken on that side of HVNGARIE Mahomet the Turkish emperour called home to the Court Sinan Bassa his Generall in HVNGARIE to conferre with him as it was thought of some great matters In whose place hee sent Ferat Bassa he who sometime had the leading of Amuraths great armies against the Persians who now departing from CONSTANTINOPLE came to BELGRADE in Aprill and there tooke the charge vppon him Where at his first comming in the night time all the ropes and cordes of the tents were suddenly cut in sunder and so his tent let fall about his eares which some supposed to haue been done to his disgrace by the procurement of Cicala Bassa before by him wronged or as others thought by the insolent Ianizaries who disliking of him did it in despight wishing rather to haue been led by Mahomet himselfe Now at his comming the famine which the last yeare began amongst the Turkes was growne exceeding great not at BVDA and BELGRADE onely but euen generally in most places of HVNGARIE possessed by the Turkes insomuch that the Tartar women that followed the campe were faine to roast their owne children and eat them This famine was also accompanied with a most terrible plague whereof great numbers of the
him with a sonne to succeed him in his gouernment euery housholder should giue vnto him a good fat oxe For all which seruice they craued no more but that they might as his subjects liue vnder his protection yet so as to be gouerned by their owne auntient lawes and customes Of which their offer the prince accepting it was forthwith by them proclaimed in their campe and all the people sworne to the performance of the aforesaid agreements And hauing at that present but fiue and twentie thousand in the field they without delay sent out their officers to presse out fifteene thousand moe for the filling vp of the promised number of fortie thousand wherewith they came vnto the prince who taking a view of his armie found himselfe to be now fourescore thousand men strong to welcome the Bassa withall when he should come againe into his countrey Now had Sinan with great speed raised an armie of seauentie thousand choice souldiours amongst whom were many whole bands of the Ianizaries the strength of the Turkish empire With which power joyned vnto the reliques of his other broken forces he thought himselfe strong ynough for the subduing of the prince vnto whom came also afterwards Hassan Bassa the sonne of the great Bassa Muhamet one of the Turkes most renowned men of warre and Bogdanus the late expulsed Vayuod of VALACHIA with many others of great name With this armie the old Bassa by a bridge which he with exceeding charge had made of boats passed ouer the great riuer of Danubius at a towne called ZORZA or GIORGO with vs S. George in VALACHIA a great way beneath that place where sometime the emperour Traian built his famous bridge of stone worthily accounted amongst the rare and wonderfull buildings of the world From ZORZA he marched with his armie to TERGOVISTA sometime the Vayuod his chiefe citie but then in the power of the Turks where is a notable monasterie which he conuerted into a castle fortifying it with deepe trenches and strong bulwarks and good store of great ordinance purposing to make that the seat of his warre vntill he had againe restored those late reuolted countries vnto the Turkish empire which hee vpon paine of his head had vndertaken to performe The prince both by messengers and letters vnderstanding of the Bassaes arriuall there and hauing his armie in good readinesse set forward to meet him and to giue him battell But being come into VALACHIA and there encamped it is reported that a great Eagle descending from an high rocke thereby called The Kings rocke and houering ouer the Christian armie flew about the princes tent and there lighting was taken and presented to the prince who commaunded her to bee kept as the presage of his good fortune holding on still his way and the fifteenth of October being come within halfe a dayes march of TERGOVISTA he vnderstood by two Christians lately escaped from the Turks That two dayes before the Turks hearing of his comming were strucken with such a generall and sudden feare that Sinan had much adoe either by faire meanes or by foule to stay the Ianizaries from flight and that when he had done what he could yet that certaine companies of them were quite fled and gone But the truth was that Sinan seeing the generall feare of his armie and he himselfe no lesse fearefull than the rest vpon the princes approch fled with all his armie leauing behind him for hast his tents his great ordinance with much victuals and other warlike prouision carrying with him onely such things as were of most value As for the citie of TERGOVISTA with the castle which he had made of the monasterie he committed it to the keeping of Hassan Bassa and Bogdanus the late Vayuod now become a renegate Turke with a garrison of foure thousand chosen souldiors promising within a few daies if need should be to relieue them but fled himselfe in all hast with his armie to BVCARESTA a daies journey from TERGOVISTA From whence he presently writ backe againe to Hassan Bassa willing him if he could to defend the castle but if he should thinke it not possible to be kept against the power of the prince then be time to forsake it and to shift for himselfe But these letters being intercepted by the Christians neuer came to the Bassaes hands Not long after the departing of Sinan the prince comming to TERGOVISTA entred the forsaken campe where he found many tents with some ordinance and great store of victuals without further delay summoned both the citie and the castle which for all that were both denied him But the next day after Hassan considering the flight of Sinan the power of the prince and withall doubting if need should be to be relieued by Sinan whom he not without cause suspected not to loue him was about vpon some reasonable composition to haue yielded vp both the citie and the castle wherunto the garrison souldiors being most part of them Ianizaries would not in any case giue their consent but stood vpon the defence of the place Whereupon the prince began furiously to batter both the citie and the castle and after some few houres batterie by assault tooke both and put to sword the whole garrison onely Hassan Bassa as taken with his owne hand he spared and two other Sanzackes Bogdanus the renegate was there slaine among the rest The Christians had there a rich prey besides 42 great pieces of ordinance and good store of all manner of warlike prouision Hassan thus taken grieuously complained that Sinan had of a malitious purpose exposed him to so manifest danger for the grudge he bare vnto his dead father the Visier Muhamet vpon whom because he could neuer be reuenged he now by sinister meanes had cunningly performed it vpon his sonne yet he craued of the prince to bee well vsed offering for his ransome 100000 Hungarian duckats Whilest the prince yet thus lay at TERGOVISTA came thither 4000 Turks whom Sinan had before his departure thence sent forth to spoyle the countrey and to seeke after prey thinking to haue there found him still who now falling into the hands of the Christians were there all slaine and 60000 head of cattell recouered which these Turkes had taken out of VALACHIA and MOLDAVIA and should by Sinans appointment haue been sent to CONSTANTINOPLE For VALACHIA and MOLDAVIA doe so abound with corne and cattell that they plentifully serue the imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE not onely with come and flesh but also yearely send at the least 150 ships thither by the black sea laded with other kind of victuals Of which so great commodities the Turkes were now depriued by the reuolt of the aforesaid countries The prince leauing a strong garrison in TERGOVISTA set forward with his armie towards BVCARESTA hoping there to haue found Sinan But he hearing of the losse of TERGOVISTA and thinking himselfe in no good safetie at BVCARESTA fled thence also to ZORZA The prince comming
lord Teuffenbach and Palsi and so of all their vnited forces made one armie consisting now of two and thirtie thousand horsemen and eight and twentie thousand foot who drew with them an hundred and twentie field pieces and twentie thousand wagons wherewith they euerie night enclosed their armie as with a most sure trench So orderly marching they kept on their way towards AGRIA with a full resolution to giue the Turkes battell whereof the whole armie seemed to be verie desirous By the way at length they came to a faire heath two miles long and foure broad where they were to passe ouer a certaine riuer the passage whereof Giaffar Bassa had before taken with twentie thousand Turkes and Tartars the rest of the Turkes armie lying still not farre from AGRIA Now the purpose of the Bassa was to haue enlarged the passage of the riuer and so to haue made way for the whole armie to haue afterwards passed vnto the other side as most commodious for many purposes especially for water whereof they so might themselues haue had plentie and yet kept the Christians from it But of this his purpose by the comming of the Christians he was quite disappointed for the next day being the three and twentith of October they skirmished with him in diuers places especially at the passage of the riuer where at the first encounter he lost three hundred of his men in the end seeing himselfe too weake to withstand the whole power comming on fled to the Sultan hauing lost two of his ensigns and twentie field pieces but of his men not many both for that he fled betime and the approch of the night hindered the pursute of the Christians who were now become masters both of the passage of the riuer and of the place where the Bassa lay which they finding not so commodious for them as they had at the first supposed especially for lacke of wood the weather then being extream cold as also hearing of the approch of the Sultan with his whole armie they forthwith forsooke the same and retired again ouer the riuer vnto the place where they lay before enclosing themselues with their waggons as if it had beene a citie strongly enclosed with wooden wals The next day which was the foure and twentith of October towards night Mahomet with all his army shewed himselfe vnto the view of the Christians and sent three thousand Tartars to passe the riuer of whom the Christians slew a great number with their great shot and put the rest to flight Both the armies were populous and strong and couered a great deale of ground a most goodly sight to behold both drunke of the same riuer as well the men as their horses and therefore kept continuall watch all that night on both sides of the riuer especially at the passage In the morning betwixt six and seuen a clocke Mahomet with his armie raunged in order of battell came within sight of the Christians his squadrons as it were couering all the countrey on that side of the riuer as farre as the Christians could well see and now againe sent part of his armie ouer the riuer with whom the Christians skirmished from morning till night both the armies parted but by the riuer all this while standing fast and as it were facing the one the other But being at length on both sides well wearied and many slaine the Turks retired againe ouer the riuer to the campe in the meane time as if it had beene by consent they resolued on both sides the next day to trie the fortune of a battell and so commaundement was giuen through both the armies for euery man against a certaine appointed time to make himselfe readie So the next day being the six and twentith of October Mahomet brought forth his armie againe out of his campe which was not farre from the Christians and began now to draw downe towards the riuer Neere vnto this place were the ruines of an old church where Mahomet placed certaine companies of Ianizaries and foure and twentie field pieces and commaunded ten thousand of his select souldiors to passe the riuer which they readily did The Christians also readie for battell and now thinking it time vpon the comming ouer of the enemie to begin with part of their armie thereunto appointed so fiercely charged the Turkes that were alreadie come ouer that they quickly ouerthrew them and not them onely but certaine companies of Tartars also that were in another place come ouer the riuer and not so contented but following them they had in chase put to flight them also that stood on the further side of the riuer of whom they slew a great number and by the comming on of the rest of the armie tooke from them an hundred and ninetie great pieces of artillerie whereof so great a feare rise in the enemies campe that Mahomet with Ibrahim the great Bassa seeing the discomfiture of the armie fled in all hast towards AGRIA shedding some teares by the way as he went and wiping his eyes with a peece of Mahomets garment which he for reuerence carried about him as a relique It drew now towards night and the Archduke was about to haue caused a retreat to be sounded and that day to haue done no more But the Transyluanian prince the lord Palfi and the rest persuaded him in that so great feare of the enemie to prosecute the victorie and the rather for that the Turks began againe to make head and to repaire their disordered battels Wherefore the Christians still keeping their array charged afresh the front of their enemies restored battell consisting of fortie thousand men and that with such violence as that they in short time had slaine the most part of them and put the rest to flight and with the like good fortune charging the bodie of the maine battell forced the discouraged Turkes with great slaughter into their owne campe Now commaundement was before giuen throughout the Christian armie that no man vpon paine of death should in seeking after spoile breake his arraâ— or forsake his place before the victorie were assuredly gotten But they in this hot pursute breaking together with the Turks into their tents there killing a great number of them and seeing in euery place great store of rich spoile contrarie to the aforesaid commandement left the pursute of the enemie and disorderly fell to the spoile of the tents vntill they came to the very tent of the great Sultan But here began all the mischiefe with a most sudden change of fortune For here these greedie disordered men not now worth the name of souldiors light vpon a strong squadron of resolute men with good store of great ordinance readie charged which they discharged amongst the thickest of their enemies and rent in sunder a number of them and after that came on resolutely themselues when in the meane time Cicala Bassa with his horsemen yet vntouched brake in vpon them also and with
disturbance of the Christian peace Whereunto he receiued no answere So the eight and twentith of October a day dedicated to the commemoration of the Apostles Simon and Iude these messengers were sent backe againe vnto the Cardinall who presently returned them back vnto the Vayuod with new instructions being then busie with his young sonne in setting his men in order of battell presently to goe against the Cardinall of whom they could get no other answer but that he was resolued forthwith to come vnto the triall of a battell with him So the two armies lying encamped not past a quarter of a league the one from the other and the same day meeting together joyned a most terrible and cruell battell which for the space of fiue houres was with such desperat obstinacie fought as if they had euery man vowed to haue carried away the victorie ouer his enemie or there to haue left themselues dead vpon the ground vntill the Cardinals people at length ouercome in a long and bloudie fight were there vtterly ouerthrowne amongst whom were thirtie thousand Turkes and Tartars sent vnto him from Ibrahim Bassa the Turks Generall The Cardinall himselfe seeing the discomfiture of his armie was by some reported to haue saued himselfe by flight but by some others was said to haue beene drowned in passing a riuer as hee fled from the Valachians that had him in chase But the truth was that the Vayuod now master of the field sent out certaine troupes of horsemen diuers waies still to pursue him and himselfe with the rest of his armie prosecuting the victorie came to the Cardinals campe now by the Transyluanians and Turkes quite forsaken wherein he found fiue and fortie pieces of artillerie with great store of coine and wealth beside a number of tents and horses all which became vnto him a prey From thence he marched vnto ALBA IVLIA where he was with great joy receiued of his friends and confederats there for though the greater part of the Transyluanians especially the nobilitie had together with the Cardinall submitted themselues vnto the Turkes protection and followed his ensignes yet were there diuers others also who still fauoured the emperour and therefore rejoyced not a little of this victorie The Vayuod after that sent his lieutenant to CLAVDIOPOLIS to see if they would yeeld also which they willingly did with many other cities and castles in diuers parts of that countrey which hauing none to rest vpon now yeelded also in such sort that shortly after all TRANSYLVANIA submitted it selfe againe vnto the emperours obeisance and swore vnto him obedience most of the nobilitie of that countrey being either slaine in the battell or afterwards put to death by the Vayuod amongst whom were fiue which corrupted by the Cardinall had before vndertaken to kill him Now the foureteenth of Nouember after diuers reports of the Cardinals escape his vngratious head was for all that presented vnto the Vayuod which to the terrour of others being for a while set vp in ALBA IVLIA where he but a little before had commaunded as a prince was afterwards taken downe and sent for a present from the Vayuod vnto the Emperour and the Archdukes his brethren his headlesse bodie being afterward by the commaundement of the Vayuod honourably buried in a monasterie at ALBA IVLIA in the same tombe he had before made for his brother beheaded by his cousin Sigismund Bathor The Cardinals treasure also fell into his hands which was said to haue beene three millions of gold Thus the countrey of TRANSYLVANIA lately before by the Cardinall yeelded vnto the obeisance of the Turke was againe by this worthie Vayuod recouered and restored vnto the Christian empire the proud Cardinall cast out and brought to confusion hauing not yet possessed these his new honours full eight moneths His cousin Sigismund the late Transyluanian prince who almost all this while had stayed at BORVSIA and in disguised apparrell seene DANSKE and diuers other the free cities thereabouts now hearing newes of the Cardinals ouerthrow secretly got him away from thence into POLONIA to seeke againe his new fortunes The lord Swartzenburg at the same time vniting his forces in the lower HVNGARIE with them of STIRIA and now twentie thousand strong sought by all meanes to reduce so many places vpon those frontiers as he could vnto the emperours obeisance and so tooke in aboue two hundred villages But afterward thinking to haue surprised the strong castle of CAPISVAR and by night secretly approching one of the gates with a Petarde which tooke not the expected effect he was discouered by the watch and so by the garrison souldiors now raised with the alarum repulsed and enforced to retire with the losse of about an hundred men and diuers others wounded all men of good account in reuenge whereof Swartzenburg afterwards sent out diuers troupes of horsemen which scouring all ouer the countrey as farre as SIGETH burnt it also and so returning carried away with them a great bootie Ibrahim Bassa hearing of this ouerthrow of the Cardinall with all the forces he had sent him much troubled therewith sent newes thereof in post to CONSTANTINOPLE the brute wherof brought a generall feare vpon the whole citie also insomuch that commission was forthwith sent vnto him from the great Sultan giuing him power if it might be to come to some honourable peace with the Emperour and to bring it with him to CONSTANTINOPLE whither he was shortly to returne being now no longer time to keepe the field with his armie which beside the cold season of the yeare suffered great want of bread the plague also then raging therein with the death of many his best souldiors both horse and foot beside the wonderfull mortalitie of their cattell also in such sort that the souldiors not able longer to endure the famine and wants increasing fell to robbing of one another and so at length into mutinie wherein diuers of them being slaine and cut in pieces by their fellowes the rest for the most part brake in sunder of themselues and so by diuers waies returned home not well trusting one another So that nothing more was now done with the great preparation of the Turkes their armie being discomfited with wants and the euill successe of their affaires as well in HVNGARIE as in TRANSYLVANIA Neither did Ibrahim the great Bassa for the reliefe of those euils at his returne bring any conclusion of peace vnto his great lord and master as was commonly expected Now beside these troubles of TRANSYLVANIA and the other reuolted countries Cusahin or as some call him Cassan the sonne of one of the Sultanesses brought vp in the Seraglio according to the manner thereof and hauing long serued in the wars of PERSIA and in HVNGARIE and so at length made Bassa of CARAMANIA a man of great spirit and not able to endure the imperfections he daily saw in the Othoman empire and the cowardise of the grand signior vpon the report
with one consent affirming That albeit he should find no other difficulties in the attempting thereof yet the lake it selfe was not possible to be passed who neuerthelesse not altogether trusting them sent certaine of his men secretly to trie the matter who hauing so done brought him word That the lake was vndoubtedly though with much difficultie to be passed Whereupon he with a thousand select souldiours with euery one of them a good faggot on his backe beside his armes to fill vp the deepest of the marish by night entered the same wherein he had not gone farre but that he almost 〈◊〉 the danger of his life found it much deeper and more troublesome than the spies had vnto him before reported but caried with an inuincible courage himselfe and his souldiors moued by his example he still went on they also following of him It is almost a thing incredible to tell what these aduenturous men endured plunged in the deepe mud amongst the flags and bulrushes going still vp in water and mud vnto the wast euen where the marish was the shallowest where also if one missed but a step he was by and by ouer head and eares and in danger to be drowned if he were not by his fellowes presently holpen yet at length by God his helpe hauing with the losse but of six or seauen men a little before day got ouer the duke by an appointed signe aduertised thereof with greater stirre and tumult than at any time before assailed that side of the citie where he lay as if euen then and there he had onely meant to haue engaged his whole forces for the winning thereof When in the meane time the lord Russwurm on the other side with his resolute souldiours with ladders prouided for the purpose scaled the wals of the suburbe and almost vnperceiued recouered the top thereof the Turkes being at the same time wholly bent for the defence of the other side of the citie where most stirre and apparent danger was and so being got into the suburbes with a great and terrible crie assailed the Turkes who surprised with an exceeding feare and not well knowing which way to turne themselues without any great resistance fled into the citie the Christians following them at the heeles and making of them a great slaughter In which so great a confusion euen where was least feared the duke by other his souldiors tooke the rest of the suburbes as he had before determined the Turkes there also for feare forsaking them and retiring with all the hast they could vnto their fellowes in the citie there to liue or die together The Christians in these suburbes beside much other rich prey tooke also foureteene great pieces of artillerie with good store of shot and pouder The suburbes the greatest strength of the citie thus happily taken the duke againe summoned the citie requiring to haue it deliuered vnto him whereunto the Turkes gaue no other answere but by their pieces which they discharged vpon the Christians so persuading them to yeeld Wherewith the duke much displeased sent them word That he would send them other manner of messengers to morrow and by Gods helpe sup with them in the citie although he were not vnto them welcome Neither failed hee of that his promise for the next day hauing out of the suburbes by the furie of his artillerie made two faire breaches into the citie he by the ruines thereof with great slaughter of the enemie entered the citie albeit that the Turkes did what they might to haue defended the same by casting downe vpon the Christians as they entered darts wild fire and such like things vsually prouided for such purpose But seeing now no remedie but that they must needs giue place vnto the fortune of their enemies they fled amaine into their houses there to defend themselues or els to die many of which houses they had before of purpose so vndermined as that they could easily ouerthrow them and so ouerwhelme as many as should come within the danger of them which so strange a resolution was by many of them as desperatly performed insomuch that the goodly church the pallace with many other sumptuous buildings were left vnto the Christians all rent and torne not much better than rude heapes of rubbidge and stones Howbeit the Bassa vpon promise of life yeelded himselfe and was by the duke presently sent vnto the campe the rest of the souldiors being as in such case it commonly happeneth all or most of them put to the sword The greatest part of the prey fell vnto the Wallons who by heapes breaking into the richest houses not onely tooke what themselues light vpon but stript the Germans also of such things as they had by chance gotten to their great heart-burning and griefe yea these rauenous and irreligious men not so contented opened the tombes of the Hungarian kings there long before buried to spoile euen the dead of such things as had for honours sake beene long before enterred with them if happily any such thing were there to be found shewing themselues therein more barbarous than the Turks who by the space of threescore yeares hauing had the citie in their possession had yet spared those reuerend monuments and suffered the reliques of those worthie princes to rest in peace Of this taking of ALBA REGALIS the Bassa of BVDA long before taken prisoner and then lying at VIENNA hearing abstained from meat with his two seruants a whole day prostrate vpon his face praying vnto his prophet Mahomet who had as he said all this yeare ben angrie with the Turks Which had the siege of CANISIA taken the like effect had then vndoubtedly been vnto them most vnfortunat but God in his wisdome still tempereth the sweet with the soure Now in the meane while was Assan the Visier Bassa and Generall of the Turkes armie with such souldiors as were alreadie assembled at BELGRADE comming t◠haue relieued ALBA REGALIS and albeit that he vnderstood by the way as he marched that the citie was by the Christians woon yet held he on his entended journey and so taking with him the Bassa of BVDA with the other Sanzackes and commaunders of the townes and castles thereabout had formed an armie of about threescore thousand strong but for most part raw and vnexpert souldiours with which power he still held on his way towards ALBA REGALIS as well thereby to giue some contentment vnto the angrie Sultan his master as in hope also to ouerthrow the Christian armie or at leastwise to find the citie as yet vnrepaired and so to regaine it But vaine was that his designement especially for the recouerie of the citie for that the duke had no sooner taken it but that he forthwith caused the breaches to be repaired and for the more assurance of it put into it a strong garrison of old expert souldiours and being himselfe about twentie thousand strong and hearing of the Bassaes comming set forward to meet him and
Bassa of AGRIA going out with ten thousand Turkes in hope to haue surprised TOCCAIB a strong hold of the Christians in the vpper HVNGARIE was encountred by Ferrant Gonzaga the emperours lieutenant there and by him ouerthrowne and with great slaughter of his Turks chased to the gates of AGRIA Now was Mahomet the Turkish emperour this yeare also no lesse troubled with the proceedings of the Scriuano in CARAMANIA and NATOLIA than with the euill successe of his affaires in TRANSYLVANIA and HVNGARIE For the Scriuano by his last yeares victorie growne into great credit with the common people and still by them more and more followed to maintaine the reputation of his credit came now againe this yeare with a great power into the field to meet with Mahomet the great Bassa and Generall of the Turkes armie who with fiftie thousand good souldiors a power thought sufficient to haue repressed him was readie to encounter him With whom the Scriuano joyning battell in a great fight â—ut in sunder a great part of the Bassaes armie and so became master of the field forraged all the countries adjoyning almost as farre as ALEPPO still calling the people vnto libertie and causing himselfe to be proclaimed the true defender of the Mahometane faith and of the liberties of those coâ—â—tries with him combined in such sort as that it now stood the great Turke vpon to send an other great armie to the aid of Mahomet the discomfited Bassa With whom also the Scriuano presuming of his former fortune comming to a day of battell and ouercharged with the multitude of his enemies was at the first encounter with his people put to the worse but forthwith by his good direction hauing repaired his disordered battell and thereby giuen as it were new courage to his fainting souldiors he with a great slaughter disordered also the Bassaes armie Yet hauing not any other firme state or stay to rest vpon more than the fauour and reputation he held with these his rebellious followers of whom he had now lost a great many he thought it not best to aduenture too far not knowing how presently to repaire his losses but contenting himselfe with that he had alreadie done retired with his armie into the strength of the mountaines there that Winter to liue vpon the spoile of the countries adjoining and the next yeare to do more harme than euer he had done before Beside all which former troubles the plague also this yeare sore raged both in CONSTANTINOPLE and many other places of the Turkish empire At which time also the Ianizaries at CONSTANTINOPLE hauing receiued some disgrace by some of the great Sultans fauourits and with great insolencie requiring to haue their heads caused their Aga well accompanied presumptuously to enter into the Seraglio to preferre this their request Whom Mahomet to the terrour of the rest caused for his presumption to be taken into the middest of the Spahi and so by them to be cut in pieces which was not done without the great slaughter of the Spahi themselues also slaine by the Ianizaries Whereupon the other Ianizaries arising vp in armes also and euen now readie to haue reuenged the death of their captaine were yet by the wisedome of Cicala Bassa bestowing amongst them a great summe of money againe appeased without farther harme doing Which their so great insolencie Mahomet imputing vnto their excessiue drinking of wine contrarie to the law of their great Prophet by the persuasion of the Muftie commaunded all such as had any wine in their houses in CONSTANTINOPLE or PERA vpon paine of death to bring it out and to staue it except the embassadours of the Queene of ENGLAND the French king and of the State of VENICE so that as some report wine for a space ran down the channels of the streets in CONSTANTINOPLE as if it had been water after a great shower of raine Sigismund the Transyluanian prince now of late againe possessed of TRANSYLVANIA as is before declared could not yet well assure himselfe of the keeping thereof for that he with the Transyluanians of his faction alone was not able to withstand the force of Basta who still strengthened with new supplies both of men and all things else necessarie for the warres from the Emperour was now with a great power alreadie entred into TRANSYLVANIA the Polonians busied in the warres of SUEVIA and the Turkes with their other greater affaires neither of them sending him their promised aid the greatest hope and stay of himselfe in that newnesse of his state Wherefore seeing himselfe euerie day to loose one place or other and fearing also least his souldiors for want of pay should in short time quite forsake him and go ouer to Basta he thought it best betimes and whilest he had yet something left and was not yet altogither become desperat otherwise to prouide for his estate especially hauing small trust in the Turkes to whom he had before been so great an enemie Wherefore he dealt with Basta for a truce or cessation from armes vntill embassadours might be sent vnto the emperour to entreat with him for some good attonement Wherewith Basta being content and the embassadours sent the matter was so handled with the Emperour that Sigismund to make an end of all these troubles was contented to the behoofe of his Imperiall majestie to resigne vnto Basta his lieutenant all such places as he yet held in TRANSYLVANIA vpon much like conditions he had about three yeares before made with him and so in all and for all to submit himselfe vnto his majestie Which intended surrender of the princes being bruted in TRANSYLVANIA Zachell Moises his lieutenant and now in field with the princes forces not able to endure or to heare that that noble prouince should againe fall into the hands of the Germanes encouraging his souldiors went vpon the sudden to assaile Basta in hope to haue found him vnprouided and so discomfiting his armie to haue driuen the Imperials quite out of TRANSYLVANIA But he an old and expert commaunder perceiuing euen the first mouing of the Transyluanians with great sceleritie put his armie in good order and so joyned battell with them wherein hee with the losse of some fiue hundred men ouerthrew Moises with his armie of Transyluanians Turkes and Tartars hauing slaine aboue three thousand of them and put the rest to flight Moises himselfe with some few others being now glad to take their refuge into the frontiers of the Turkes territories towards TEMESVVAR But when Sigismund vnderstood what his lieutenant had without his knowledge done he in token of his owne innocencie went himselfe vnto the Imperiall campe accompanied only with certaine of his Gentlemen and there vnto Basta excused himselfe of that which was by his lieutenant against his will and without his priuitie done frankly offering to performe whatsoeuer was on his part to be performed according to the agreement made betwixt the Emperour and him And so presently calling his garrisons out of
price he thrust in armed men couering those packs with homely couerings sending them by carriages to the castle of BILEZVGA giuing charge that they should not come thither before twilight After that he appareled certaine of his best souldiours in womens apparell as if it had beene his wife and mother in law with their women so casting his journey that he with these diguised souldiours and the other sent in packs might at one instant meet at the castle aforesaid The captaine being now in the countrey and vnderstanding that Othoman was comming in the euening with a great tâ—ame of gentlewomen thought the cause of his late comming to be for that the Turkish women vse to shun the sight of Christian men by all meanes they can Othoman being now come to the place in the countrey where the mariage was next day to be solemnized hauing done his humble reuâ—rence to the captaine requested him to do him the honour That his gentlewomen which were nigh at hand might by his appointment bee sent to his castle there to haue some conuenient lodging where they might alight and bestow themselues a part from others according to the homely fashion of their nation least peraduenture the presence of so honourable a companie of noble men and gallants might put them out of countenance which the captaine graunted and hauing saluted them a far off after the Turkish manner commaunded them to be conueyed to his castle making reckoning of them all as of a rich prey At the same time that these disguised souldiours arriued at the castle came thither also the other souldiours couered in packes in the cariages which so soone as they were within the castle suddenly leapt out of the packs and drawing their short swords with the helpe of their disguised fellowes slew the warders of the castle and without more adoe possessed the same the greatest part of the captaines people being before gon out of the castle to the place of the mariage Othoman hauing taried so long with the captaine as hee supposed the castle by that time by his men surprised so soone as the captaine had taken his chamber suddenly tooke horse with all his followers accompanied also with Cossi taking his way directly to the castle of BILEZVGA of whose sudden departure the captaine vnderstanding presently tooke horse and pursued him with all his traine which were for the most part drunke and ouertaking him before he came to the castle set vpon him in which conflict he was by Othoman slaine and the rest put to flight The same night Othoman vsing great celeritie earely in the morning surprised the castle of IARCHISAR also where he tooke prisoners the captaine thereof with his faire daughter Lulufer which should haue beene maried to the captaine of BILEZVGA the next day with all her friends as they were readie to haue gone to the mariage which faire ladie he shortly after married vnto his eldest sonne Orchanes who had by her Amurath third king of the Turkes and Solyman Bassa Othoman omitting no opportunitie presently sent one of his captaines called Durgut-Apes a man of great esteeme and valour to besiege the castle of EINEGIOL wherein he vsed such celeritie that preuenting the same of that was done at BILEZVGA he suddenly inuironed the castle in such sort that none could passe in or out vntill such time as that Othoman hauing broght his prisoners and prey to the castle of BELIZVGA and there hauing set all things in good order came with the rest of his men of war to EINEGIOL which he presently by force tooke promising the spoile thereof vnto his souldiours The captaine called Hagio-Nicholaus his antient enemie he caused to be cut in small peeces and all the men to be slaine which crueltie he vsed because they a little before had vsed the like tyrannie against his Turks When Othoman had thus got into his subjection a great part of the strong castles and forces of the greater PHRIGIA with the territorie to them belonging he began with all carefulnesse to make good lawes and to execute justice to all his subjects as well Christians as Turkes with great indifferencie studying by all meanes to keepe his countrey in peace and quietnesse and to protect his subjects from the spoile of others as well Christians as Turkes whereby it came to passe that the old inhabitants which for the most part had forsaken the country by reason of the great troubles therein repaired now againe to their antient dwellings and not onely they but many other strangers also supplying the places of them whom the late warres had consumed So that by his good gouernment that wasted countrey in short time grew to be againe verâ—â— populous The ciuile gouernment of his countrey well established hee besieged the citie of ISNICA in antient time called NICE a citie of BITHINIA famous for the generall Counsell there holden against Artus in the time of Constantine the Great This citie hee brought into great distresse by placing his men of war in forts new built vpon euerie passage and way leading vnto the same so that nothing could be brought out of the countrey for the reliefe of the poore citizens They in this extremitie by a secret messenger certified the emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE vnder whose obedience they were in what distresse the citie stood and that except he sent them present reliefe they must of necessitie either perish with famine or yeeld themselues into the hands of their enemies the Turks The emperour mooued with the pittifull complainâ— of this messenger with all expedition embarked certaine companies of souldiours from CONSTANTINOPLE to relieue his besieged citie But Othoman vnderstanding by his espials where these souldiours were appointed to land in secret manner withdrawing most of his forces from the siege lay in ambush neere vnto the same place where the emperours souldiours casting no perill landed who before they could put themselues in order of battell were by Othoman and his Turks in such sort charged that most part of them were there slaine and the rest driuen into the sea where they miserably perished Othoman hauing thus politikely ouerthrowne the Constantinopolitan souldiours returning to his siege continued the same in straighter manner than before The besieged citizens driuen into great pâ—nurie and now despairing of all helpe yeelded themselues with the great and rich citie of NICE into the hands of Othoman with the spoile whereof he greatly enriched his men of war Aladin the great Sultan of ICONIVM glad to heare of this good successe of Othoman against the Christians in token of his fauour and loue sent vnto him a faire ensigne with certaine drums and trumpets a sword and princely robe with large charters That whatsoeuer he tooke from the Christians should be all his owne and also that publike praiers should be said in all the Turks temples in the name of Othoman for his health and prosperous estate which two things properly belonged to the dignitie of the Sultan
solemnitie of words promised to whomsoeuer could bring vnto him the Despot either quicke or dead which were of purpose giuen vnto the country people passing too and fro to be dispersed abroad in the high waies and about in the country neere vnto the Despots campe And after that he caused the death of the emperour his grandfather to be euerie where proclaimed and how that he was by the Constantinopolitans in a tumult slaine which the deuiâ—â—â—s thereof in euery place reported Yea some there were that swore they were themselues present at his wofull death and saw it with their eies othersome more certainely to persuade the matter shewed long white goats haires or such like gathâ—â—ed out of white wooll as if they had beene by the furious people pluckt from the old emperours head or beard at such time as hee was slaine Which things being commonly reported in euery towne and village but especially in the Despots campe wonderfully fillâ—d mens heads with diuers strange and doubtfull â—houghts then diuers also of the dispersed edicts being found and brought vnto the Despot strucke him and not without cause into a great feare insomuch that by the persuasion of his best friends he without longer stay retired in hast to THESSALONICA Whither shortly after came a gallie from CONSTANTINOPLE with secret letters from the emperour to the Despot for the apprehension of fiue and twentie of the cheefe cittizens vehemently suspected for the stirring vp of thâ— people to rebellion and so to haue deliuered the citie vnto the prince all whom the Despot should haue sent bound in that gallie to CONSTANTINOPLE but they in good time perceiuing the danger they were in secretly stirring vp the people and by and by after ringing out the bels the signall appointed for the beginning of the rebellion had in a very short time raised a woonderfull tumult in the citie insomuch that all the citizens werâ— vp in armes who running headling vnto the house of the Despot found not him for he forewarned of their comming was fled into the castle but slew all they met of his or els robbing them cast them in prison As for the Despots house they tooke what they found therein and afterwards pulled it downe to the ground Then comming to the castle they fired the gates which the Despot seeing and not able to dâ—fâ—nd the place tooke horse and fled vnto a monasterie not far off where being taken by them that pursued him he full sore against his will for thâ— safegard of his life tooke vpon him the habit of a monke neuerthelesse he was froÌ„ thence caried prisoner to the yong prince his nephew who shewed himselfe much more courteous vnto him than all the rest of his nobilitie waiters for they as if they would haue eaten him vp were euen foorthwith readie to haue torne him in peeces hâ—d noâ—â—he prince embracing him in his armes saued his life Yet the next day after by the persuasion of his counsell he sent him to DIDIMOTICHVM where hee was cast into a most loathsome prison being verie deepe and straight in manner of a well no bodie to attend vpon him but one boy where he lay in miserable darkenesse and stinke they which drew vp his ordure from him and the boy whether by chance or of purpose pouring it oftentimes vpon his head Where after he had lien a great while in most extreame miserie wishing to die and could not he was at length by the princes commandement entreated thereunto by certaine religious men remooued into a more easie prison where we will for euer leaue him Things falling out crosse with the old emperor and although they were neuer so well deuised still sorting out vnto the worst he became verie pensiue and doubtfull what to do So it fortuned that one day in his melancholy mood hauing a Psalter in his hand to resolue his doubtfull mind he opened the same as if it were of that heauenly Oracle to aske counsell where in the first verse that he light vpoÌ„ was Dum coelestis dissociat reges niue conspergentur in Selmon When the Almightie scattered kings for their sakes then were they as white as snow in Selmon Which he applying to himselfe as if all those troubles and whatsoeuer else had happened in them proceeded from the will of God although for causes to him vnknowne hee by and by sought to reconcile himselfe vnto his nephew contrarie to the mind of Syrgiannes desiring nothing but trouble For as we haue before said the yoong prince although he was desirous of the power and libertie of an emperor yet he left the ornaments and care thereof vnto his grandfather had he not oftentimes and earnestly been egged forward by his companions to affect the whole empire happily could and would haue contented himselfe with the former pacification for being now sent for he came first to RHEGIVM and there visited his mother now set at libertie and sent thither for the furtherance of the desired pacification where he with her and by her counsell did whatsoeuer was there done So within a few daies the matter was brought into so good tearms that an attonement was made and he himselfe went and met the emperour his grandfather before the gates of the citie the old emperour sitting then vpon his horse and the prince lighting from his a good furlong before he came at him and although his grandfather was verie vnwilling and forbad him so to doe yet he came to him on foot and kissed his hand and foot as he sat on horesebacke and afterward taking horse embraced him and there kissed one another to the great contentment of the beholders and so hauing talked some few words departed the old man into the citie and the yoong man into his campe which then lay neere vnto PEGA where staying certaine daies he came diuers times into CONSTANTINOPLE and so went out againe for as then his mother partly for her health partly for the loue of her sonne lay at PEGA But Syrgiannes nothing glad of the agreement made betwixt the emperour and his nephew walked vp and downe sicke in mind with a heauie countenance especially for that in time of peace his busie head stood the commonweale in no stead Wherefore in all meetings assemblies he willingly conuersed with them which most disliked of the present state and spake hardly as well of the emperour as of his nephew wronged as he thought by them both whereas in the time of their greatest distresse hee had as hee said stood them in good stead But seeing one Asanes Andronicus walking melancholie vp and downe as a man with heauinesse oppressed who hauing done good seruice for the yoong prince and not of him regarded had fled vnto the old emperour and there found no such thing as he expected for the ease of his greefe although he were a man honourably borne and otherwaies indued with many good parts with him Syrgiannes acquainted himselfe as grieued with the like
peace and warres receiued their dayly wages and monthly payes in readie money of his treasurers and paymasters for defraying of which charge hee neuer wanted coyne hauing an inestimable masse of money alwayes in store in the seuen towers at CONSTANTINOPLE and his yearely tributes and reuenewes still exceeding all his charges by a fourth part The strength of the Persian king consisted in three kind of souldiours the first were they which were accounted soldiors of the court the second such as were by custome and dutie bound to serue him in his warres and the third such as were sent vnto him from the princes his neighbours and confederates Those which were accounted souldiors of his court had their certaine stipends and were altogether maintained of the kings charge of whom according to the old custome of the Persian kings they at certaine times receiue armour horses apparrell tents and wages euery one as he is in place and degree And being attended vpon with a gallant and strong garrison of these he maintaineth the majestie of his court especially when hee rideth in prograce The nobilitie and antient gentlemen of his countrey who hold lands and possessions discended vnto them from their ancestors or holden by the gift of the king are sent for in time of warres and are of dutie bound to performe such like seruice as the nobilitie and gentlemen of ITALIE FRAVNCE and SPAINE doe vnto their soueraigns these hardly amount to the number of twentie thousand whereof it is well if the third part come well armed the rest content themselues with head-headpieces and jackes and vse for their weapons either horsemens staues or bowes which they can most cunningly handle discharging their arrowes very neere vnto that they aime at either forward or backward They which come vnto him from forraine princes confederat or tributarie are commonly sent from the kings and princes of IBERIA ALBANIA and the countries bordering vpon MEDIA and ARMENIA who being halfe Christians beare a mortall hatred against the Turkes Hysmaell the Persian king had then vnder his dominion these great and famous countries ARMENIA the greater SVLTHANIA PERSIA ASSYRIA MESOPOTAMIA MEDIA and PARTHIA whereof ARMENIA is the chiefest famous for the great citie TAVRIS called in auntient time ECBATHANA this countrey yeeldeth vnto the Persian king his best footmen but his choice horsemen come from out of PERSIA and especially from SCYRAS called of old CYRIPOLIS next vnto them are from ASSYRIA the cheefe citie whereof is BAGADAT called in auntient time BABYLON The Medes and Parthians are of all others accounted the best archers next vnto the Scythians But now to returne againe from whence wee haue a little too farre stayed Selymus after his great expedition against Hysmaell wintering at AMASIA by his lieutenants and captaines in EVROPE and ASIA raised such a power that with the first of the Spring he entred againe into the confines of the Persian kingdome with a greater armie than before and that somewhat sooner than the extreame cold of that part of ARMENIA subject to the snowie mountaine TAVRVS would either well suffer or that the enemie thought it had been possible for him to haue so done There was vpon the further side of the riuer Euphrates a strong towne called CIAMASSVM situate a little aboue that place where the riuer Melas much celebrated by the Grecian Poets falleth into the riuer Euphrates which towne for the commodious situation thereof standing vpon the first entrance of the passage into ARMENIA the great the Persians had furnished with a strong garrison this towne Selymus thought good in any case to be master of by taking whereof and of some other holds thereabout he should open a faire way for himselfe into his enemies countrey Hysmael at the same time was gone with all his power against the Hyrcanians Bactrians and other sauage people dwelling neere vnto the Caspian sea then vp in arms against him which wished opportunitie Selymus taking and making a bridge ouer the riuer Euphrates passed ouer with his armie came before the towne and laied hard siege to the same before his enemies were well aware of his comming The Turkes at their first approch compassing the citie round with their huge multitude of harquebusiers and archers draue the defendants from the wals and still without rest or intermission bringing on fresh men as Selymus had before taken order and others at the same time breaking open the gates and in diuers places scaling the wals enforced the defendants to forsake their standings and to retire themselues into the market place where although they were before sore spent with labour and wounds yet did they there with wonderfull courage a great while notably withstand the multitude of their enemies still swarming in and in defence of their countrey like resolute men fought it out vnto the last man Selymus hauing taken and ransacked CIAMASSVM with two other small castles which the defendants had for feare before abandoned although he was with a deadly hatred and ambitious desire prickt forward against Hysmaell and thirsted after nothing more than the subuersion of the Persian kingdome yet he thought it not good further to enter into ARMENIA before he had out of those forrests and mountaines chased the mountaine king Aladeules who but the yeare before had most trecherously done him and his armie so many injuries in his returne from the Persian expedition For Aladeules not without cause fearing his owne estate as soone as he vnderstood that Selymus had againe taken the field and that he was come to the riuer Euphrates and so to CIAMASSVM speedily assembling his forces had in short time raised a great armie for the defence of himselfe and his kingdome purposing that if Selymus should goe farther into ARMENIA then after his wonted manner to looke on as a beholder and by the euent of the warre to take occasion of prey and by shutting vp the passages of his countrey at his pleasure to rob and spoile the Turkes in their returne Wherefore Selymus leauing a garrison at CIAMASSVM retired backe againe ouer the riuer Euphrates vnto the mountaine ANTITAVRVS where it was reported that his enemies lay This Aladeules as is aforesaid ruled ouer the rude and sauage mountaine people inhabiting the great mountaines TAVRVS and ANTITAVRVS which mountaines as it were linked together one to another run from the mountaines called SCODRISCI and the borders of CAPADOCIA with a perpetuall rising through many large prouinces and countries vnto the great mountaine AMAâ—VS and vttermost bounds of CILICIA The people of this countrey were by nature fierce and warlike more famous for nothing than for the want of all thing who as men dwelling in a rough and bare countrey could little or nothing profit by husbandrie yet in such places as would beare any pasture they had their breed of horses and cammels and did with all diligence vse grasing but the greatest part of their liuing consisted in hunting and stealing These
thin they might at more libertie vse their swords in which manner of fight the Mamalukes farre excelled the Turks for most part slaine and the rest put to flight and that chosen companie of fiue hundred of the most valiant Ianizaries now destitute of their horsemen when they had most courageously done what was possible for men to doe being compassed round with the Mamaluke horsemen were all in a trice cut in peeces and troden vnderfoot Thus resteth this Eunuch Bassa in the bed of fame who liuing had the leading of this most warlike emperour Selymus his greatest armies in his most dangerous warres Mustapha in the other wing of the Turkes battell comming on courageously with his Asian horsemen did sore presse the left wing of the Aegyptians whereof Heylmis the Diadare and Giâ—pal two valiant captaines had the leading who but a little before had receiued great harme by the great ordinance which was discharged out of the middest of Selymus his battell ouerthwaâ—â— the field Which Mustapha perceiuing and desiring to blot out the old infamie hee had before receiued did fiercely presse vpon them so disordered and with his whole troupes ouerthrew their broken rankes and glistering in his bright armour with a loud voice encouraged his Asian souldiors exhorting them that day with valiant prowesse or honourable death to recouer their antient honour of late lost in the fields of ALEPPO At the same time also Tomombeius breaking through the middle battell of the Turkes horsemen was entred into the squadron of the footmen with his crooked scimitar giuing many a deadly wound himselfe being a valiant big made man and of great strength The Arabians had also in a ring enclosed the vttermost parts of the Turks armie and in many places enforced them to turne their battell vpon them being sore charged with a doubtfull fight both before and behind when Selymus set forward with his battell of footmen and his squadron of Ianizaries his last and most assured refuge in that his hard distresse whose inuincible force neither the courageous barbed horses nor their victorious riders were able to abide for part of them with their harquebusiers and the rest with their pikes had so strongly set the front of their battell that nothing was able to stand wheresoeuer that firme battell linked together as if it had been but one whole entire bodie swayed Yet was this cruell battell continued with diuers fortune on both sides from foure of the clocke vntill the going downe of the Sunne neither was there any part of their armies which had not with diuers successe and change of fortune endured the furie of that battell for both the victors and the vanquished being enraged with an implacable hatred one against another fought desperately as men prodigall of their liues The Mamalukes disdaining to haue the victorie wrong out of their hands by them whom they had in so many places discomfited and the Turkes taking it in no lesse scorne that they whom but of late they had ouercome and vanquished in two great battels should now the third time make so strong resistance So that on both sides their fainting hands and bodies both wearied and weakened with wounds supported only with anger and obstinacie of mind seemed yet sufficient to haue maintained that bloudie battell vntill the next day if the darkenesse of the night now comming on had not made an end of that dayes slaughter Tomombeius vndoubtedly vanquished and feating to be vtterly ouerthrowne first caused a retreat to be sounded that his Mamalukes which were indeed not able to withstand the Ianizaries might not seeme to be put to flight but rather as men commaunded to retire Which hee thought to concerne much both for the encouraging of his souldiors and for the keeping of his owne credit and estimation with his subjects For now the selfesame fortune which had deceiued his first hopes seemed vnto him as it fareth with men in distresse yet still hoping for better to promise him more prosperous successe if he were not discouraged but reseruing such remainders of his forces as were left he should againe courageously renew the warre The battell thus broken off by the approch of the night the Turkes as victors enjoying the tents and great artillerie of their enemies pursued the Mamalukes vntill midnight who held on their way to CAIRE in manner as if they had fled This great battell was fought vpon a thursday the foure and twentieth day of Ianuarie in the yeare 1517. The Diadare was taken in the flight mortally wounded and with him the valiant captaine Bidon hauing in the battell one of his legs broken in the knee with a faulshion shot wherewith his horse was also slaine vnder him Selymus commaunded them both the next day to bee slaine either for that their wounds were supposed to be incurable or els for that it was his pleasure with the death of those two honouble personages to appease the angrie ghost of Sinan Bassa whose death he wonderfully lameÌ„ted The Turkes although they still preuailed yet was their armie greatly impaired euen in their prosperous successe and fortunat battels the fourth part of their armie was consumed with sicknesse and the sword and that dayes labour had tyred a great number of their horses beside the long journey they had before endured For which causes Selymus was enforced to slacke somewhat of his accustomed hast for as yet he had no experience of the disposition of the Aegyptians which dwelt at CAIRE neither could he vnderstand by any certaine report where Tomombeius staied or vpon what resolution he rested Which things not throughly known he thought it not good to commit himselfe and his armie into that most populous and spacious citie but staying foure dayes at the village of MATHAREA and RHODANIA carefully prouided for his wounded souldiors and caused the bodies of such as were slaine to be buried but the dead carkasses of his enemies he left to the birds of the aire and beasts of the field And afterward remouing his campe thence that he might more commodiously water he came into the plaines betweene old CAIRE and BVLACH In the meane while Tomombeius nothing discouraged with so many mishaps gathering together the Mamalukes from all places encamped his armie commodiously betweene the new citie of CAIRE and the riuer Nylus hee also armed eight thousand Aethyopian slaues which kind of men he had not before vsed for the remembrance of their old rebellion beside that hee opening the old armourie put armes into the hands of Mamalukes sonnes and Moores his vassales into the hands of the Iewes and Arabians also and courageously prepared for a greater and more mortall warre than before But for as much as there were many difficulties in the managing thereof hauing almost lost all his great artillerie with many of his most valiant horsemen slaine in the former battels he in his troubled mind did so cast the doubtfull hopes of his last deuice which cruell necessitie wrung from him
with him seauen thousand captiues and all the spoile of the citie And not so contented did all the harme he could with fire and sword all alongst that coast of AFRICA to the intent that the Turks should there find no reliefe and tooke 12 prisoners out of MONASTERIVM a towne not far from the citie of AFRICA and so hauing done that he came for returned againe into SICILIE Dragut thus at once thrust out of all he had with a few of his friends fled to Solyman at CONSTANTINOPLE and so incensed him with the grieuous complaint of the wrong done vnto him by the Christians that in reuenge therof he resolued to make warre both vpon the emperour and king Ferdinand notwithstanding that the fiue yeares league he had before taken with him at his going into PERSIA was not yet expired So with cheerfull words and courteous entertainment comforting vp the desperat pirat the Spring following which was in the yeare 1551 he furnished him with a great fleet in most warlike manner appointed to reuenge the injurie done to him by Auria in AFFRICKE With this fleet in number one hundred and fortie saile Sinan one of the Turks great Bassaes accompanied with Dragut the pirat by the appointment of Solyman departed from CONSTANTINOPLE and cutting thorow the seas arriued at length in SICILIE where they suddenly surprised the towne and castle of AVGVSTA which they presently sacked Departing thence they came to the island of MALTA and there landed their men in the port of MARZA otherwise called MOXET neere vnto the castle which they battered with certaine pieces of great ordinance but so as was to no great purpose At which time diuers companies of the Turkes running farther into the island made hauocke of whatsoeuer came in their way After they had thus few daies in vaine battered the castle and saw themselues both there valiantly repulsed and in other places by ambushes and such like meanes cut off by the souldiors and inhabitants of the island they remoued thence to the road of S. Paul where they landed their ordinance with purpose to haue besieged the citie but perceiuing by a little what small hope there was to preuaile and seeing diuers of their men dying thorow the extreamitie of the heat they forsooke the island and went to GAVLES now called GOZA a little island about thirtie miles in compasse fiue miles distant from MALTA Westward subject vnto the knights of the religion and there landing their men miserably spoiled the island and whatsoeuer they light vpon and carried away with them of one sort of people and other six thousand and three hundred captiues into most wofull bondage With which bootie they put againe to sea and sailed directly to TRIPOLIS in BARâ—Aâ—IE called of old LEPTIS MAGNA which citie Charles the emperour had before giuen to the knights of MALTA and was at that time by them kept This citie was the marke whereat the Bassa and the pirat shot for taking whereof they landed their forces and by long and winding trenches approched as neere the same as they could which they did not without great losse of their people for they of the castle hauing good store of great ordinance and most expert canoniers did with continuall shot so annoy the Turks that they were oftentimes enforced to retire yet with much troublesome labour and no lesse perill they came at last within eight hundred paces of the wals where the Bassa caused his gabions made of thicke plankes to be placed in the night and his batterie planted And the next day which was the eighth of August the cannon began to play which was againe answered from the castle with like and euerie houre some of the Turks slaine the great shot still flying into their trenches so as that day foure of the best canoniers in the armie were slaine with certaine other men of good account also and the clearke generall of the armie a man of great estimation and welbeloued of the Bassa had his hand shot off and many other of the Ianizaries and common souldiors either slaine or hurt moreouer they brake one of their best pieces and dismounted foure others which for that day made them to leaue the batterie The next night the Turkes approached yet neerer vnto the castle vpon whom the Christians in the breake of the day sallied out euen vnto their verie trenches and afterwards retired With the rising of the sunne which the Turkes haue in great reuerence they renued their batterie with greater force than before yet with such euill successe that the Bassa was almost mad for anger for about the euening the fire by mischance got into their pouder wherewith thirtie of the Turkes were burnt many hurt and one piece broken At length the Turks were come so neere that they had planted their batterie within an hundred and fiftie paces of the wall which they continued with such furie that they had made a faire breach euen with the ditch but what was beaten downe in the day time the defendants repaired againe by night in such sort as that it was not to be assaulted Yet in conclusion a traiterous souldior of PROVINCE before corrupted by the Turkes found meanes to flie out of the castle into the campe where he declared vnto the Bassa the weakest places of the castle by which it might be most conueniently battered and soonest taken and especially one place aboue the rest which was against the gouernors lodging which standing towards the ditch and hauing vnderneath it sellars to retire the munition into could not if it were once battered well be repaired againe or fortified Which the Bassa vnderstanding caused the batterie there to be planted laying the pieces so low that they did easily beat the sellars and vaults in such sort that in short time the wals were so shaken that the rampiers aboue thorow the continuall batterie began greatly to sinke which so amased the soldiors seeing no conuenient meanes to repaire the same that setting all honour aside they requested the Gouernour That sithence the matter began now to grow desperat and that the place was not longer to be holden he would in time take some good order with the enemie for their safetie before the wals were farther endamaged With which motion Vallter the Gouernour an antient knight of DAVLPHINIE and one of the order was exceedingly troubled which Peisieu another of the knights perceiuing he as a man of great courage and of all others there present most antient in the name of the other knights declared vnto them That the breach was neither so great nor so profitable for the enemie but that it was defensible enough if they would as men of courage repaire the same saying That it was more honourable for worthie knights and lustie souldiors to die valiantly with their weapons in their hands fighting against the infidels for the maintenance of their law and Christian religion than so cowardly to yeeld themselues to the mercie of
middest of the enemies vnto the citie of MELITA and so in a little frigot came to MESSANA by him the Great master sent letters to the Viceroy requesting him to send him his owne two gallies with those knights which were at MESSANA and such other souldiors as might in them be transported willing them that as soon as they came to the island they should houer off aloofe before the hauen readie vpon a signe giuen to thrust in The same time that this messenger arriued at MESSANA came thither also the fleet from SPAINE wherein were many of the knights of the Order from diuers nations The Viceroy desirous to send those two gallies to Valetta sent letters before vnto him in secret caracters by two frigots wherein he certified him that he would send the gallies requiring to haue from him some signe wherby they might at their comming know whether they should enter or retire which frigots taking diuers courses one of them laded with medicines as was afterwards knowne was intercepted by the enemie the other although she came in safetie to MELITA yet for as much as all the passages betwixt the castle of S. Michaell and the citie of MELITA were certaine dayes before by the diligence of the enemie shut vp and three which had vsed to passe too and fro intercepted and most cruelly executed and besides that the hauen straightly kept the knights of MESSANA could haue no further direction from the Great master for the safe sending of the two gallies yet neuerthelesse because he had requested them and they themselues were of the same opinion as he had before written that where all is in question the aduenture of a little part is lesse to be feared they thought it good to aduenture them yet with this regard not to expose all those knights to so great a danger but of them all to send onely fortie with a conuenient number of other souldiors and with them Salazar a Spanish captaine was sent by the Viceroy to be landed in the island of GAVLOS who should afterwards from thence in a boat for that purpose towed along by the gallies passe ouer into the island of MALTA as a spie to take view both of the citie and enemies campe In the meane time the Turks mindfull of the losse receiued in the assault of the castle S. Michael and desirous of reuenge did so violently batter the castle with their great ordinance that what the defendants repaired by night that they still beat downe againe by day and in time of the batterie made a bridge which the twentith day of Iuly before the Sunne rising they laid ouer the ditch that they might as if it had been vpon euen ground come to fight hand to hand with the Christians Which seene and quickly perceiued what danger it might bring by and by Parisot the Great masters nephew and Agleria both knights with certaine mercinarie souldiors sallied out to haue burnt the bridge but were so receiued of the Turks that they were almost all slaine together with Parisot and Agleria and yet the exploit vnperformed The Turks without ceasing continued their furious batterie vntill the eight and twentie of Iuly which day in the afternoone they in diuers places assaulted the castle thrice they with fresh and new supplies relieued their repulsed and wearied souldiours and so fiercely maintained the assault that they made no doubt but that day to win the castle But the defendants with no lesse resolution withstood them repulsing them with their weapons with shot fire and force and at length enforced them with no small losse of their men to retire from their wals This victorie so encouraged the besieged that now they made small reckoning of the enemie but for as much as our men alwayes spared their great ordinance but in time of fight and sallied not out as they were wont the Turks thought that the garrison was but weake and that shot and pouder grew scarce in the castle Yet deceiued in both for that it was rather of purpose than for want so commaunded by the Great master who hearing nothing of the comming of any aid and seeing the enemie to giue dayly more fierce assaults would not vainely spend his most necessarie helpes The Turkes perceiuing what little good they had done with their often assaults determined now to prooue what might be done by vndermining the castle and had almost brought one of their mines to perfection before it was by the Christians discouered and to the intent they should the lesse marke it they caused two gallies to come as neere as they could to the wals and to batter that place in hope that whilest our men gazed vpon that was done openly they should the lesse regard what they were working in secret that so they might in the meane time more easily get into the castle But the besieged carefull of all that was to be cared for perceiuing their purpose with a countermine defeated their mine and by the couragiousnesse of certaine of their soldiors but especially of one auntient draue out the enemie who hauing cast certaine pots of wild fire before him into the mine and following presently after with a peece of fireworke in his hand forced them out For which good seruice he was by the Great master rewarded with a chaine of gold of fiue pound weight and because of vertue springeth vertue which still resteth vpon difficulties the next day which was the first of August the bridge which we said the enemie had made ouer the ditch was by a sallie made by the defendants burnt downe with fire and gunpouder cast vpon it which was in good time done for the next day the Sunne now declining the Turkes againe assayling that part of the castle where Carolus Rufus had the charge were by our men valiantly repulsed This assault endured three houres in which time three hundred of the Turks were there slaine and of the knights Rufus himselfe and Baresus with certaine mercinarie souldiors At this time the Christians were by the enemie so shut in with the multitude of great ordinance that they could not so much as looke into the ditch or shew themselues much lesse sallie out but they were by and by set off Yet did they not for all that make spare of their liues when occasion was giuen them to performe any notable exploit as appeared by Calderonius a Spaniard who seeing some viewing that part of the wall which the enemie had most battered and shaken at the castle bulwarke doubted not to sallie out but was presently taken with a bullet and slaine which mischance when it might seeme of right to haue terrified the rest from attempting the like did indeed the more incense them so that when they saw the enemie exceeding busie in filling the ditch they resolutely set downe to offer themselues to most assured death rather than to fall into the hands of the mercilesse enemie agreed to sallie out by night and to
that day to confirme their former labours and victories and not to suffer their vanquished enemies to triumph ouer them he told them that the enemie had now no defence left wherewith to couer himselfe that all was beaten downe flat and that there remained onely a few wearie and maimed bodies which were not able long to endure the edge of their swords that with such resolution they had before woon the castle of S. Elmo last of all he by promising to some mony to some honour and preferment threatening some and requesting others encouraged some one way some another euery one according to his qualitie and disposition who mooued either with their Generals presence promises or threats gaue a fresh and fierce assault The fight was on both sides terrible yet at length the Turkes were againe enforced to retire for the defendants had cast vp a rampier whereon they had fitly placed two field pieces wherewith they sore troubled the enemie and at the first shot strucke in sunder one of those woodden engines which the enemie had made stronger than the rest couered with raw hides to keepe it from burning and rent in pieces fortie souldiors which were vnder it and the same night they which were in the other town and the castle bulwarke sallying couragiously out destroyed all the enemies defences draue them from a mount which they had made vpon the fortifications of the Christians whereby they perceiued plainely what small courage the Turks had to fight for vpon that mount they were almost three hundred whereas of our men was but fiue and twentie with which small number for all that they had no mind to deale The defendants had for like purpose as before made another mine at the castle bulwarke but perceiuing that it was in danger to be found by the enemie in repairing his fortifications without they suddenly put fire vnto it by force whereof threescore Turks which were within the danger of the place were blowne vp and slaine Garzias the Viceroy in the meane while that these things were in doing departing with his fleet from SIRACVSA with a prosperous wind kept on his course toward PACHYNVM where they descried a tall ship at sea driuen thither as was afterwards knowne by tempest she out of the island MENINâ— was carrying a great supplie of shot and pouder vnto the Turkes campe at MALTA but now ouertaken by the Christian fleet easily yeelded and was by the Viceroy sent by other marriners to SIRACVSA And now the Christian fleet caried with a faire gale towards MALTA suddenly arose such a tempest from the East that they were driuen to the island AEGVSA two hundred and twentie miles West of MALTA from whence the first of September letters were brought from the Viceroy to the Great master certifying him That he would in short time come with his fleet and relieue him The same day also a Christian fled out of the Turkes gallies wherein he was captiue to the citie S. Angelo who reported That in the Turkes campe were few men able to fight most of the armie being with wounds famine sicknesse and other miseries brought to extreame weakenesse and besides that that infinit numbers of them died dayly yet for all that he said moreouer that they were determined to besiege the citie of MELITA and had alreadie for that purpose mounted fiue great pieces of artillerie for batterie and that they had but a few dayes before taken twelue and the last day of all foureteene horsemen of the garrison souldiors of that citie In the meane while the fleet which was driuen as we said to AEGVSA the rage of the sea being now well appeased came to Dâ—â—PANVM and from thence toward GAVLOS as was before intended where by the way the two gallies of MALTA light vpon two of the Turkes galliots and tooke them The fift day of September the Christian fleet came to GAVLOS where the Viceroy perceiuing not the appointed signes from MALTA whereby he might safely land returned forthwith backe againe to POZALO whether Auria immediatly following him told him That hee had seene the signes and assured him of safe landing in the island of MALTA wherewith the Viceroy encouraged the next day towards night returned againe to GAVLOS The same day a Christian captiue fled from the Turks to S. Angelo and told the Great master That he was come to bring him good newes how that the Turks had determined to proue their last fortune in assaulting the castle S. Michael which they would doe the next day where if the successe were answerable to their desire they would then tarrie but if not then forthwith be gone and that Mustapha the more to encourage his souldiors had promised fiue talents of gold to the ensigne bearers that should first aduance their ensignes vpon the wals and farther to promote them to greater places of honor as for the rest he would reward euery one of them according to their desert either with money or preferment Valetta thinking all these things to be by Gods appointment discouered vnto him by such men as they had from time to time beene first gaue thankes vnto Almightie God and after that with all diligence prepared such things as he thought most necessarie for the repulsing of the enemie But the Turks all that day with their great ordinance battered the new citie and the shipping in the hauen in such sort that one of the great ships was there sunke In the morning Garzias the Viceroy with his fleet arriued at the island of MALTA and there quickly and quietly landed his forces and whilest his gallies watered at GAVLOS went forward with the armie about halfe a mile instructing the Generals and Colonels what hee thought needfull to be done commaunding all proclamations and commaunds to be made in the name of the king of SPAINE vntill they came to the Great master and then in all things to obey him as their Soueraigne and charged Ascanius Cornia the Generall in all his actions to follow the counsell of the greater part So in few words exhorting them to play the men he left them marching towards MELITA About noone he retired to his gallies and sayling Eastward came with all his fleet within the sight of the citie of MELITA about three miles distant from the South shore They of the citie vpon sight of the fleet in token of joy discharged all the great artillerie which was answered from the fleet by discharging all their great ordinance twice After that he returned as he had before determined into SICILIA to take into his gallies the duke of VRâ—INS companies which were come to MESSANA and certain bands of Spaniards at SYRACVSA and so forthwith to returne to MALTA to attend the departing of the Turks fleet being now euill appointed and alreadie as good as halfe ouerthrowne The Turkes who as is before said had purposed to prooue their last fortune vpon the towne of S. Michael had now certaine dayes before
sent from the new castle by Serbellio got into GVLETTA after which they in the besieged castle sallied out and the twentith of August repulsed the Turkes with an exceeding great slaughter But the Bassaes fully resolued vpon the winning of the place to gage their whole forces and without ceasing still bringing on fresh souldiors after they had all the day continued a most terrible assault at length about two houres after Sun set they tooke the castle the three and twentith day of August when there was now scarcely two hundred soldiors left aliue to defend the same who altogither with the other weak people in the castle were without mercie cut in pieces What wealth the Turkes found in this castle is hard to say but certaine it is that they had therein great store of victuals armour shot and pouder and foure hundred great pieces of artillerie GVLETTA thus taken the Turkes forthwith laid siege to the new castle appointed by Don Iohn the yeare before to haue beene built betwixt GVLETTA and TVNES which was not yet altogither finished wherein the two auntient and valiant captaines Serbellio and Salazar left there of purpose for the building thereof by Don Iohn lay with a garrison of four thousand good souldiors The Bassaes when they gaue the first summons to the castle the foure and twentith of August required to haue it forthwith deliuered vnto them to whom Serbellio stoutly answered That he had promised the king his master to giue him a better account of the place and being now also verie old could not endure the Turkes heauie yoake but would therefore hold it out vnto the last man which both he and Salazar truly performed not omitting any thing that was by men to be done for defence of the place and sallying out sometimes the one and sometimes the other made great slaughter of the Turkes giuing them also repulse vpon repulse when they came to the assault But the great Bassaes little feeling and lesse regarding the losse of men so that thereby they might gaine the place after many most terrible and desperat assaults at length namely the thirteenth day of September when they had with all their force for the space of six houres furiously assaulted the castle and slaine most of the defendants at last tooke it Serbellio shot in with two bullets and wishing rather to die than to fall into the hand of the enemie thrust himselfe into the middest of the Turkes there to haue perished but by the hastie comming in of Piall Bassa both he and Salazar were taken aliue as for all the rest that followed them they were put to the sword The Bassa in his rage strucke Serbellio and the more to grieue him caused his sonne to be cruelly murthered before his face Neither was this victorie by the Turkes obtained without bloud hauing in lesse than three moneths space that the siege endured lost aboue thirtie thousand men These strong holds the greatest strength of that kingdome thus taken the Turks marched to TVNES which they easily tooke and afterwards ouerthrew the fortifications therof because it should no more rebell Mahomet the young king but the yeare before placed in that kingdome by Don Iohn was there taken and in bonds sent aboord to be carried with Carrâ—ra captaine of GVLETTA prisoners to CONSTANTINOPLE And thus the kingdome of TVNES with the strong castle of GVLETTA fell againe into the possession of the Turkes to the farther trouble of the Christian countries lying ouer against it The prowd Bassaes hauing as they thought best disposed of all things at TVNES and GVLETTA departed thence and with their fleet of 400 saile came the fourth of October within sight of MALTA But vnderstanding that they of MALTA were prouided for their comming and remembring what dishonor their most magnificent emperor Solyman had not many years before there sustained wherof diuers of them had been eye-witnesses they turned thence and sailed directly to CONSTANTINOPLE Shortly after this great emperour Selymus spent with wine and women vnto whom he had giuen his greatest strength died the ninth of December in the yeare of our Lord 1574 when he had liued one and fiftie yeares and thereof raigned eight and lieth buried at HADRIANOPLLE He was but of a meane stature of an heauie disposition his face rather swollen than fat much resembling a drunkard Of all the Othoman kings and emperours he was of least valour therfore least regarded altogither giuen to sensualitie and pleasure and so dying left his empire vnto Amurath his eldest sonne a man of more temperance but not much greater courage who neuerthelesse by his valiant Bassaes and men of warre did great matters especially against the Persians the mortall and dangerous enemies of the Turkes as shall be hereafter in his Historie declared FINIS Christian princes of the same time with Selymus the second Emperors of Germanie Maximilian the second 1565. 12. Kings Of England Queene Elizabeth 1558. 45. Of Fraunce Charles the ninth 1560. 14. Of Scotland Queene Mary 1543. 20. Iames the sixt that now raigneth 1567. Bishops of Rome Pius the V. 1566. 6. Iulius the XIII 1572. 12. AMVRATH AMVRATHES TERTIVS TVRCARVM IMPERATOR SEXTVS FLORVIT AN o 1574 Non ego fortis eram Qâ—is tanto nomine dignus Ni fortem faciat mens generosa virum Me tumidum fortuna tumens euexit in altum Et par fortunae mens mea semper erat Sic quamuis tenero mihi nil nisi molle placeret Nominis augendi raptus amore fui Emisique meos ad fortia facta ministros Per quos sublatum est nomen in astra meum Mustapha Ferrhates Sinan ter maximus Osman Terrores orbis succubuere mihi Armenios domui fortes Medosque feroces Et mihi paruerat Regia Taurisij Sed mihi quid prodest tantorum parta labore Gloria Si subito maxima queque ruant Et nihil est tanti quod non breuis auferet hora Sic mea cum multis gloria victa iacet RICH. KNOLLEVS In English thus The Worthies praise I challenge not for who deserues the same Except the noble Worthies minde deserue the Worthies fame Prowd fortune set me prowd aloft in honours highest grace And still my hautie thoughts they were equall vnto my place So that although naught pleasd but that best fitted my desire Yet to increase my fame I still did more and more aspire And sent my mightie Worthies out to mannage my great warres By whose knowne valour my prowd name is mounted to the starres Prowd Sinan Ferrat Mustapha all men of high degree The terrours of the world so wide were vassales vnto me Th'Armenians stout I vanquished and fild the Medes with feare And Regall TAVRIS stately towers at my commandment were But what auailes my glorie great got with such Worthies paine If in the twinckling of an eye it come to nought againe And nothing is of so great State which Time shall not cast
teares and prayers of his sister desirous of nothing more than to be reuenged for the death of her sonne the seauenth of August caused open war to be proclaimed against the Christian emperour both at CONSTANTINOPLE and BVDA The mannaging whereof he committed to Sinan Bassa the old enemie of the Christians his lieutenant generall and persuader of this warre who departing from CONSTANTINOPLE with an armie of fortie thousand wherein were 5600 Ianizaries was by Amurath himselfe and the great men of the Court brought a mile on his way hauing in charge from the great Sultan by the assistance of the Beglerbeg of GREECE the Bassaes of BVDA and TEMESVVARE and other his Sanzackes and commaunders in that part of his empire to reuenge the death of his nephew and the dishonour receiued at SISEG This warre Amurath with great pride denounced vnto the Christian Emperour and the rest of the princes his confederats in this sort Amurath the third by the grace of the great God in heauen the onely Monarch of the World a great and mightie God on earth an inuincible Caesar King of all Kings from the East vnto the West Sultan of BABILON Soueraigne of the most noble families of PERSIA and ARMENIA triumphant victor of HIERVSALEM Lord possessour of the Sepulchre of the crucified God subuerter and sworne enemie of the Christians and of all them that call vpon the name of Christ. We denounce vnto thee Rodolph the Emperour and to all the Germane nation taking part with thee vnto the great Bishop also all the Cardinals and Bishops to all your sonnes and subiects wee earnestly I say by our crowne and empire denounce vnto you open warre And giue you to vnderstand that our purpose is with the power of thirteene kingdomes and certaine hundred thousands of men horse and foot with our Turkes and Turkish armes yea with all our strength and power such as neither thou nor any of thine hath euer yet seene or heard of much lesse had any proofe of to besiege you in your cheefe and metropoliticall cities and with fire and sword to persecute you and all yours and whosoeuer shall giue you helpe to burne destroy and kill and with most exquisit torments we can deuise to torture vnto death and slay such Christian captiues as shall fall into our hands or els to keepe them as dogs captiues in perpetuall miserie to empaile vpon stakes your fairest sonnes and daughters and to the further shame and reproch of you and yours to kill like dogs your women great with child and the children in their bellies for now we are fully resolued to bring into our subiection you which rule but in a small countrey and by strong hand and force of armes to take from you your kingdome as also to oppresse root vp and destroy the keyes and See of ROME together with the golden scepter thereof and we will prooue whether your crucified Iesus will helpe you and doe for you as yours persuade you Beleeue him still and trust in him and see how he hath holpen his messengers which haue put their confidence in him for we neither beleeue neither can we endure to heare such incomprehensible things that he can helpe which is dead so many worlds of yeares agoe which could not helpe himselfe nor deliuer his owne countrey and inheritance from our power ouer which we haue so long time raigned These things ô yee poore and miserable of the world we thought good to signifie vnto you that you with your princes and confederats may know what you haue to doe and to looke for Giuen in our most mightie and imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE which our auncestours by force of armes tooke from yours and hauing slaine or taken prisoners all their citisens reserued such of their wiues and children as they pleased vnto their lust to your perpetuall infamie and shame Sinan with his armie thus sâ—tting forward kept still on his way towards BVDA but the Beglerbeg of GRaeCIA with a farre greater power marched towards CROATIA as well to relieue the forts distressed by the Christians as againe to besiege the strong castle or monasterie of SISEg which he with his huge armie at his first arriuall compassed about without resistance and with continuall batterie ouerthrew the wals thereof giuing no time of rest vnto the defendants Which breaches they for all that valiantly defended and with restlesse labour notably repaired the very fearefull women bringing tables stooles and whatsoeuer els came to hand that might any wise helpe to keepe the enemie out of whom a great number was in the breaches slaine But what was that handfull against such a multitude At length the third day of September the Turks by maine force entered the Monasterie and put to sword all the soldiors therin amongst whom were two hundred Germanes of whom the Turks cut some in pieces and the rest they threw into the riuer Kulp One religious man there found among the rest they did flea quicke in detestation of his profession and afterward cutting him in small pieces burnt them to ashes So taking the spoyle of all that was there to bee had and leauing a strong garrison for the keeping of the place they passed ouer Sauus burning the countrey before them and carried away with them about a thousand poore Christians into perpetuall captiuitie These inuasions of the Turks caused the Emperour to craue aid both of the states of the empire and other forraine princes farther off which was by some easily graunted but not so speedily performed About this time Peter surnamed le Hussar for that hee commaunded ouer those horsemen whom the Hungarians call Hussars captaine of PAPPA by the appointment of Ferdinand countie Hardeck gouernour of RAB lay in wait for the Turks Treasurer in HVNGARIE who had the commaund of fiue thousand Turkes him this Hungarian tooke at aduantage as he was mustering and paying certaine companies of his souldiors mistrusting no such danger and desperatly charging him slew him with diuers of his men and put the rest to flight and so with the spoyle and some few prisoners he returned againe to his castle carrying with him the Treasurer Now Sinan the Generall being come with his armie to BVDA resolued with himselfe to begin his warres in that part of HVNGARIE with the siege of VESPRINIVM This episcopall citie was by Solyman the great Turke taken from the Christians in the yeare 1552 and againe by them recouered about foureteene yeares after about the yeare 1566 since which time vntill now it had remained in the hands of the Christians Sinan without delay marching with his armie to VESPRINIVM compassed the citie round and encamping as he saw good planted his batterie wherewith he continually thundered against the citie The Christians there in garison easily perceiuing that the citie was not long to be holden against so great a power placed diuers barrels of gunpouder in certaine mines they had made vnder the wals and bulwarkes of the towne with
they againe at them in the castle and that they had alreadie receiued from the Turks twentie thousand duckats with some prouision of victuals were shortly after to receiue from them the rest of the money promised them and so to deliuer the towne For preuenting whereof the lord Swartzenburg the two and twentith of Iune sent the lord Sharpfenstein with a French colonell three thousand souldiors certaine Petardes and a number of scaling ladders towards PAPPA whom the false rebels suffered peaceably to enter the towne the foure and twentith of Iune still encouraging them to come on calling them their countreymen and brethren and in token of friendship shaking them by the hands telling them that hauing assurance of their pay they desired no more But hauing now receiued in so many of them as they thought good and as they knew they were well able to deale with shutting the rest out they cut them all in peeces and afterwards in derision called vpon the high Dutches to come on in like manner Three hundred of these rebels at the same time had laied themselues in ambush by a mill fast without the towne who by the Wallons and Haiduckes without discouered were also by them charged vpon whom for all that by reason of the shot out of the towne they could doe no good but hauing lost three hundred men and amongst them Hanniball Kralzs the lord Sharpfensteine his lieutenant generall and one Del la Margose the chiefe enginer they retired Which losse the desperat rebels if it had beene in their choice had wished rather to haue happened vnto the Dutches than to the Wallons or Hungarians About three daies after three of these rebels being by chance taken prisoners by the Imperials and brought to RAE were not only apparrelled but also trimmed after the Turkish fashion as men not desiring longer to be accounted Christians the rest of their fellowes in the towne also all imitating the Turkes fashions as well in their apparrell as in their manner of seruice yet for all that would not these metamorphosed monsters yeeld the towne vnto the Turks before they had the full summe by them agreed vpon the Bassa of BOSNA being commaunded from the Grand signior in all hast to prouide it for them and so to receiue of them the towne Neuerthelesse for their more strength and their more credit with the Turkes they receiued into the towne one ensigne of the Turks with certain waggons of victuals brought thither with so strong a conuoy as that the Imperials durst not meddle therwith in which waggons being discharged they sent in bonds six hundred Hungarians and Dutch men women and children prisoners to ALBA REGALIS being all of them glad to be so sent away in hope to find more fauour and courtesie at the hands of their enemies than they had found with these renegat Christians So shortly after these rebels sent out certaine messengers vnto the gouernour of ALâ—A REGALIS to know his full resolution which messengers conducted by certaine Turkes of great account were vpon the way by the free Haiduckes all intercepted and the messengers taken with an hundred Turkes moe In the meane while Michael Marotti before imprisoned by the rebels in PAPPA by letters secretly aduertised the lord Swartzenburg of a certaine place whereby he might as he said easily enter the towne and the rather for that the rebels were at variance amongst themselues Who thereupon the twelfth of Iuly came to PAPPâ— with nine thousand horse and foot but disappointed of his purpose for entering the towne hardly neuerthelesse belayed the same vpon whom the mutiniers many times desperatly sallied out right valiantly encountered them albeit that they were still without any notable losse by their enemies too strong for them beaten backe againe into the towne In one of which sallies it fortuned one of their captaines to be taken who to the terrour of the rest was presently flaine quicke and his head and skin vpon a pike set vp before the towne for his fellowes to behold But the lord Swartzenburg still more and more preuailing vpon them they sent secretly for aid to the Turks whereof he for all that getting intelligence sent also for three regiments of souldiours moe to come vnto him to the siege by whose comming he well strengthened and bringing his approches neerer the towne tooke from the rebels the mill a strength which they very vnwillingly lost as in hope thereby to haue the more easily receiued aid from the Turkes who hauing made preparation to haue relieued them were letted so to doe by the rising of the water which had spoiled all the prouision for their reliefe at the bridge of ESSEG as also hindered them for marching forward At length the Imperials were come with their trenches euen to the towne ditches out of which they had let out all the water where some of the townesmen eâ—caping out of the towne declared how that the mutinous souldiors within laboured both day and night to fortifie the towne but to be in their worke much letted by the continuall assaults of the Imperials as also that they now had neither bread nor wine nor other victuals left more than a little salt and threescore horse of which they had alreadie begun to eat and that although they were not altogether so valiant yet that they had resolued to die by the hands of the souldiors as men expecting no other mercie Yet shortly after viz. the nine and twentith of Iuly they desperatly fell out vpon the trenches of Marspurgisch a Dutch captaine of whose souldiors they slew many being drunke and driuing the rest out of their trenches raised a great alarum Which the lord Swartzenburg hearing hasted thither to the rescue where with an vnluckie musket shot hee was strucke in the head and slaine Whereof the rebels got knowledge the same euening and Del la Mota their Generall in reward of that seruice gaue vnto them that had made that sallie a thousand dollars to be deuided amongst them The dead bodie of that so worthie a man as had done great seruice for the Christian commonweale was afterwards with great solemnitie brought to RAB and there honourably enterred The like desperate sallie they made againe the next day and slew of the Imperials an hundred and thirtie and tooke certaine prisoners and in retiring backe againe into the towne cried aloud That when they lacked meat rather than they would yeeld the towne they would eat Christians whereof Marotti should bee the first The lord Swartzenburg thus slaine the gouernment of the armie was by Matthias the archduke committed to the lord Redern a noble man both valiant and learned who although hee were verie sickly came vnto the camp before PAPPA the eight of August where vnderstanding that the rebels now brought vnto extremitie had a purpose by night to flie away and so be gon he caused a more vigilant and strong watch to be kept when lo according to his expectation
trouble them in the castle and the vpper citie of BVDA Which their entended exploit they happily attempted and brought to passe in this sort The citie of PESTH standing right ouer against BVDA is as we haue oftentimes beforesaid deuided from the same with the great and swift riuer of Danubius ouer which the Turkes vpon boats had with great labour and cost of late built a most easie and commodious bridge for passage or carriage of things from the one citie to the other this bridge the Imperials thought necessarie first to breake the more easily to besiege either the one or other citie and for that purpose had by a strange deuice built a ship which by the force of the streame carried downe the riuer and resting vpon the bridge should by a wonderfull power breake the same Which ship the Turks seeing comming downe the riuer with the rest of the fleet after her they ran by heapes especially out of the Water citie to the bridge for the defence thereof where whilest they were thus busied Countie Sultze on the other side by land with a Petarde blew vp one of the gates of the citie and so entering and killing all such as he light vpon came vnlooked for vpon the backes of the Turkes at the bridge of whom some he slew some he draue into the riuer who there perished the rest in number not many by speedie flight retiring themselues into the citie whereupon he had now brought such a generall feare that they all as well the souldiors as the citisens with the Christians at their heeles with as much hast as they could tooke their refuge into the vpper citie of BVDA much stronger and better fortified than was the lower citie At which time the bridge was by them vpon the riuer broken also so that now the one citie could no more thereby relieue the other as before The Water citie thus woon and the bridge broken the next was for the Imperials to besiege either the one or the other citie But for that they of PESTH might with their great ordinance much annoy them in the besieging of the castle and the vpper citie of BVDA they thought best to begin with it first which they did in much like sort as they had before done at the lower citie of BVDA the same deuice againe well prospering in their hand For the lord Russworm with the fleet vpon the riuer making a great shew as if hee would euen presently on that side haue entered had with the stirre by him raised drawne downe most part of the garrison souldiors vnto that side of the citie where most shew of danger was whilest in the meane while Countie Sultze with the gouernour of ALTHEM before vndiscouered vpon the sudden by land scaled the other side of the citie and gained the wals the Turkes yet dreaming of no such matter But hereupon began a great outcrie the Turkes standing as men astonied especially now feeling the Christians weapons in their bodies before they knew they were got into the citie In this so great an amasement such of them as could fled into the strongest towers the rest hid themselues in cellars and other the most secret corners they could find out of which they were afterwards by the Christians drawne and slaine They which were retired also into the towers and other stronger places of the citie seeing the great ordinance in euery place bent vpon them and now out of all hope of reliefe offered to yeeld requesting onely that they might with their wiues and children with life depart promising for that fauour so shewed them to persuade them of BVDA also in like manner to yeeld Vpon which promise that their poore request was graunted and the lord Nadasti with certaine other captaines sent with some of these citisens of PESTH with their wiues and children to BVDA who comming thither according to their promise most earnestly requested them of BVDA to yeeld for that they were not now to expect any further helpe and that by their foolish obstinacie they should bee the cause of the death of them their friends their wiues and children Vnto whom also to mooue them the more the lord Nadasti promised in the name of the Generall That they should all excepting some few of their chiefe commaunders in safetie depart howbeit they of BVDA would not hearken thereunto but stood still vpon their guard In this citie of PESTH well inhabited with Turkish marchants the Christians found great store of wealth which all became a prey vnto the souldiors with a thousand horses for seruice many great pieces of artillerie and much other warlike prouision PESTH thus woon and a strong garrison left therein they returned againe ouer the riuer to besiege the castle and vpper citie of BVDA which they attempted by vndermining the same as also by batterie hauing placed some of their great ordinance so high that they could at their pleasure shoot into the middest of the streets of the citie wherewith they much troubled the Turkes not a little before discouraged with the losse of PESTH thundering also at the same time with their other batteries in diuers places at the wals both of the castle and of the citie Where vnderstanding that the Turkes garrisons of the frontier townes and castles thereabouts hearing of the siege were comming to the reliefe of their distressed friends they sent out their horsemen with some part of their footmen against them who meeting with them gaue them a great ouerthrow and so with victorie returned againe vnto the rest of the armie lying at the siege being still in hope either by force or composition to become masters of the citie But whilest they lay in this hope and hauing the twelfth of October brought their approaches neerer vnto the wals had there planted certaine notable pieces of batterie with purpose the next day with all their power to haue assaulted the citie behold the Visier Bassa hearing by the way as he was going to BELGRADE and so to CONSTANTINOPLE that PESTH was woon and BVDA besieged changing his mind returned in hast with such forces as hee had yet left and so vnlooked for came and sat downe before PESTH being not then aboue fiue and twentie thousand strong but those all or for the most part old and expert souldiors But whilest the Bassa thus lay at the siege of PESTH on the one side of the riuer and the Imperials at the siege of BVDA on the other diuers braue attempts were in both places giuen both on the one side and the other The Christians besieged by the Turkes in PESTH hauing amongst them diuers braue captaines and desirous of honour one day vnder their conduct sallied out of the citie to skirmish with the Turkes and comming with them to the sword by plaine valour disordered them and enforced them to flie and so allured with the sweetnesse of the victorie pursued them euen to their trenches from whence a great squadron of the
Christian campe About night certaine bals of wild fire were shot into the citie whereof one fell vpon the tower called S. Adelbert and set it on fire wherewith first the church and afterward a great part of the towne fell on fire The Sanzackes house with all his horses and armour and a great quantitie of pouder was then burnt and inestimable hurt done in the citie The next day the Christians had with continuall batterie made a breach in the castle wall but adjoyning vnto the wall was an high and broad sandie rampier which could hardly be battered for all that the Germanes gaue a fierce assault vnto the breach hoping to haue entred by the ruines of the wall but being not able to get ouer the sandie rampier were enforced with losse to retire The day following they began againe the batterie with eighteene great pieces when about eight a clocke in the morning the Rascians that were in the old citie gaue the Generall to vnderstand That if he would at a place by them appointed assault the greater citie to draw the Turks thither they would in the meane time deliuer vnto the Christians certaine little posternes and receiue them into the old citie vpon condition that no violence should be done vnto them or theirs Which being so agreed vpon the Christians accordingly gaue the assault the eleuenth of May in the euening and by the helpe of the Rascians tooke the citie who according to promise were all taken to mercie and the Turkes slaine except such as by their good hap recouered the new towne The keeping of this citie was committed to the charge of two companies of Germane footmen and six hundred Hungarians with three hundred Rascians and other townesmen Thus was the old citie of STRIGONIVM gained by the Christians the suburbs whereof they presently burnt neuerthelesse the new towne with the castle was still holden by the Turkes Wherefore the Christians hauing cast vp certaine trenches and mounts and placed their artillerie as they thought most conuenient began againe to batter the castle and after they had by the furie of the cannon made it saultable with great courage assailed the breach which the Turkes valiantly defended so that the Christians were glad to retire leauing behind them about an hundred and thirtie of their fellowes slaine in the breach The Turkes a little before the comming of the Christians had fortified an hill wherunto the castle was something subject called of the Christians S. Nicholas his hill this hill so fortified the Christians with continuall batterie and assault gained the 17 of May and put all the Turkes left aliue therein to the sword and turning the ordinance from thence also battered the castle The two and twentith of May a little before the going downe of the Sunne certaine ensignes of footmen were drawne out of the campe to haue the next day assaulted the lower towne who taking the benefit of the night attempting to haue entred the towne in the dead time of the night were notably encountred by the Turkes sallying out of the towne vpon them The Christians for all that hauing enforced them to retire prosecuted their former resolution and with much adoe got ouer the vttermost wall but finding there contrarie to their expectation such a deepe and broad countermure as was not possible to be passed they stood as men dismaied neither could they in the darknesse of the night well see how to get back againe ouer the towne ditch but disorderly retiring stucke fast many of them in the deepe mud and there perished In this assault there were about a thousand of the Christians wounded and slaine and albeit that they twise or thrise renewed the assault yet preuailed they nothing but were still repulsed with losse Many also of the Turkish garrison were likewise slaine yea the Sanzacke himselfe hurt with a great shot with many other wounded men sent downe the riuer to BVDA brought thither true newes of the aforesaid assaults and of the state of the besieged In the meane time newes was brought to the campe That Sinan Bassa the old enemie of the Christians and the Turkes great lieutenant comming towards HVNGARIE with a great armie and hauing by boats conuaied ouer part thereof was set vpon by â—he Rascians these are poore oppressed Christians dwelling on both sides of Danubius who weary of the Turkish thraldome and desirous of their auntient libertie haue oftentimes taken vp armes against the Turkes as they now did encouraged by the good successe of the Christians on the other side of HVNGARIE and that after diuers skirmishes they had taken thirteene of the Turkes vessels wherein beside victuals and certaine great pieces of artillerie they found about 2400 waight of pouder 447 hundred of lead 46454 bundles of match 1200 great shot whereof 1005 were of 66 pound waight and of small shot for harquebusiers 48500 with much other warlike prouision a great part whereof was brought into the campe at STRIGONIVM and the rest reserued to future vses This losse so troubled the great Bassa that he altered his purpose before entended for CASSOVIA The fourth of Iune about fiue hundred Turkes sent vp the riuer from BVDA conducted by two Sanzackes vnder two red and white ensignes landed neere to GOKARA on the farther side of Danubius ouer against STRIGONIVM where after they had a while refreshed themselues and left some few for the more assurance of the place all the rest were conuaied ouer the riuer into STRIGONIVM where they had been long looked for the old garrison being now sore weakned by the former assaults Foure daies after the Turkes encouraged with this supply sallied out vpon a sudden and had entred one of the forts of the Christians but were forthwith againe repulsed hauing lost six and twentie of their men and two of their ensignes not farre off lay a troupe of horsemen who if they had in time come in not one of the Turks had escaped Long it were to tell how often and in what manner the Christians assaulted this citie but were by the Turkes so receiued that in fiue assaults they lost fiue thousand of their men amongst whom were diuers captaines lieutenants auntients and others of good account three and twentie canoniers were also slaine and ten great pieces of artillerie so spoiled as that they were no more seruiceable The garrison of this citie consisted for most part of the Ianizaries the Turkes best souldiors whose notable valour in holding out of this siege was both of their owne people and their enemies much commended whatsoeuer was beaten downe by day that they againe repaired by night and still relieued with victuall and things necessarie from BVDA did what was possible to be done for defence of the citie About the same time certaine Turkes chancing vpon a troupe of Germane horsemen in fight slew about fiftie of them and put the rest to flight whereupon an alarum being raised in the campe many ran out to the
rescue of their fellowes taking with them certaine small field pieces Which the Turkes perceiuing began to flie whom the Christians eagerly pursuing were suddenly assailed by other Turkes sallying out of a fort fast by and enforced shamefully to retire and to leaue their field pieces behind them Which the Turkes ceizing vpon cloyed them brake their carriages and made them altogether vnseruiceable All this while the lord Teuffenbach lying at the siege of HATVVAN about this time requested aid of the Archduke for that his power was with often conflicts hunger and other difficulties alwayes attending long sieges so much weakened as that he had scarcely six thousand sound men in his campe to whom the Archduke forthwith sent twelue hundred footmen being loth to spare any moe for too much weakening of his owne armie Amurath disdaining to see the frontiers of his empire in so many places impugned by the Christians and dayly to receiue from them so great harmes sought by all meanes to bee reuenged wherefore beside the great power of his owne which he was now about to send with Sinan Bassa into HVNGARIE he had also procured from the great Tartar a wonderfull number of those rough and sauage people to be sent into HVNGARIE there to joyne with his armie These wild people to the number of seuentie thousand according to direction giuen breaking into PODOLIA WALACHIA and MOLDAVIA gathered together an incredible number of oxen and kine to this end and purpose that driuing them before them they might both be assured of victuals and the safer trauell through a part of POLONIA But when they were come vnto the borders of that countrey and there found the power of Samoschie the great Chancellour and the Polonian Cossackes in armes they easily perceiued that they could not that way passe without great losse Wherefore they placed the aforesaid heards of cattell some before some behind and some on each side of the armie and so enclosed round about with those cattell as with a trench marched on But when they were come neere vnto the Polonians this rude deuice serued them to no other purpose than the ouerthrow of themselues for the Polonians discharging their great ordinance so terrified the cattell that they turned vpon the Tartars and ouerthrowing whomsoeuer came in their way did exceeding much harme whom the Polonians immediatly following and hardly charging the confused armie armed onely with bow and arrowes after some small fight put them at last to flight and obtained of them a notable victorie with an exceeding rich prey Of the Polonians were lost about eighteene hundred but of the Tartars were slaine thirtie thousand The rest retiring into PODOLIA and passing the riuer Nester by the way of TRANSYLVANIA where they did exceeding much harme came to TEMESVVARE and so afterwards further into HVNGARIE vnto whom the Turkes sent seuen hundred horsemen to conduct them to the armie But to returne againe to the siege of STRIGONIVM The fourteenth day of Iune the Christians betweene eight and nine of the clocke in the morning with great furie assaulted the towne in three places which assault they most notably maintained vntill it was almost three a clocke in the afternoone Neuerthelesse the Turks so valiantly defended themselues that at last the Christians were glad to giue ouer the assault and with losse to retire The Archduke from an high place beholding the assault had one of his footmen slaine fast by him with a small shot Many of the Turks were also slaine in this assault and amongst them one of the three Sanzackes that defended the citie The night following there arose a most horrible tempest with such raging wind and abundance of raine that many thought they should neuer haue seene day with the violence whereof the Archdukes tent was ouerthrowne and diuers others blowne downe or rent in sunder were in the aire carried from place to place About the same time the lord Palsi within the sight of the castle cast vp a notable fort with high mounts and strong trenches euen in the selfesame place where Solyman lay about fiftie yeares before when he besieged and woon STRIGONIVM by which fort so built the enemie was embarred to conuey any thing vp the riuer for reliefe of the citie to the great discomfiture of the besieged for to haue hindered the which worke the enemie oftentimes sallied out but to no purpose This fort being brought to perfection the Christians tooke also another fort in an island on the further side of the riuer which the Turkes had but a few dayes before taken from the Christians and cloyed the great pieces therein which fort the Christians now againe repaired furnishing it with a sufficient garrison and other great ordinance These things thus done the castle and the lower towne were in fiue diuers places out of the new built for t the old towne and the island so battered with continuall shot that a man would haue said that one stone would not haue beene left vpon another but that all should haue beene beaten downe and layed euen with the ground The seuenteenth of Iune one of the Christian canoniers so dismounted one of the great pieces in the castle that the piece together with the Turkish canonier that had charge thereof fell downe out of the castle into the ditch And the same day a mason that fled out of the castle into the campe amongst other things reported That many of the Turks were slaine with this continuall batterie and often assaults and that not past an houre before fortie of them were slaine in one chamber and now acknowledged themselues to be indeed besieged and to haue resolued that when they were brought to the last cast then desperatly to sallie out vpon the Christians and so either to returne with victorie or to make shift euery man for himselfe as he might Which his report seemed not altogether faigned for about midnight a thousand of the Turkes sallying out of the castle vpon the fort newly built vpon the riuer in hope to haue surprised it were by the Christians therein notably repulsed and enforced to retire in which conflict fiftie of the Turkes were slaine and many moe wounded and taken prisoners And the same day toward euening eight Turkes of good sort being taken and brought into the campe confessed That but six dayes before they had seene seuen boats full of wounded and dead men sent downe the riuer from STRIGONIVM to BVDA Whereby it was easily to be gathered how bloudie a siege this was vnto the Turkes for as much as all those bodies were the bodies of men of good account and place for the bodies of such common soldiors as were slaine they still threw into the riuer running by The fort newly built vpon the banke of Danubius much troubled the besieged Turkes in STRIGONIVM because nothing could without danger of it be sent vp the riuer for their reliefe Wherefore they by fit messengers sent word out of the castle
AGRIA hauing retired with his armie to STRIGONIVM and there staied somewhat too long expecting the comming of more aid began now at length to set forward and to make some shew as if he had indeed purposed to haue relieued his distressed friends so hardly beset at AGRIA But such was the foulenesse of the weather hindering the passage of his great ordinance not to speake of any thing else that in foureteene daies he marched scarcely twelue miles forward Whereby the enemie tooke occasion to preuaile as he did in his siege who now hearing of the comming of the Christians and seeing to how little purpose he had so long battered the castle conuerted all his endeuours to the filling vp of the ditch of the old castle with fagots earth and such like matter for the hastening of which worke Mahomet himselfe spared not to ride vp and downe in all places of his armie with his presence and cheerefull speech encouraging his men in that desperat worke But whilest the Turkes are thus busie in fulfilling his commaund the Christians sallying out vpon them made great slaughter of them and put to flight Ibrahim the great Bassa with such as were about him after whom they so eagerly followed that he in the flight lost his tulipant for hast and was there verie like to haue been taken Neuerthelesse the worke went still forward and was now at length with the restlesse labour of so great a multitude brought to such perfection that the Turkes thought it now no great matter by assault to enter the castle and therupon the tenth of October gaue vnto it foure desperat assaults one vpon another being still with great slaughter of his men repulsed But comming on againe the fift time with fresh supplies and greater furie than at the first they preuailed and so entring put to the sword all they found in the castle in number about eight hundred four hundred of whose heads one of the Turkes captaines caused to be carried vnto Mahomet in the campe in the beholding whereof he is said to haue taken great pleasure as in the vndoubted signes of his victorie The old castle thus taken nothing remained but the new castle against which the Turks conuerted their whole forces wherein they reposed not so much hope although their batterie were verie terrible and their power great as in the secret mines wherewith they had in foureteene places vndermined the castle and were now almost readie to be blowne vp Which the besieged perceiuing and withall considering the state wherein they stood and not hearing any thing of reliefe resolued amongst themselues without the consent of their chiefe commaunders no longer to hold out but to yeeld And thereupon altogither as if it had been but one man rise vp in a mutinie against their two Gouernours Paul Niari and Terskie who at the first by all the reasons they could deuise dissuaded them from such cowardise putting them in mind of the oath they had taken which not preuailing they afterwards vpon their knees requested them as men to hold it out yet a while in hope of speedie reliefe yea Terskie with his hands cast vp entreated them that if they would no longer hold it out but needs yeeld they they should first kill him with their owne hands that he might not liue to see so great a dishonour But what â—uaileth persuasion with men possessed with so great feare And in the meane time two hundred and fiftie of the common souldiors amongst whom were many Italians secretly escaping out of the castle fled into the campe of whom diuers became renegats and turned Turke which added to the former feare so much discouraged the minds of the rest that they forthwith required to come to parley with the enemie and so agreed That they might with bag and baggage their swords by their sides in safetie depart the great Sultan giuing his faith for the performance thereof with hostages deliuered on either side So the thirteenth of October about noone the garâ—ison souldiors came out of the castle in number about two thousand but they were not gone farre but that they were in a great plaine set vpon by the Turkes and Tartars and there cut in pieces some of them were flaine quicke and some other of them otherwise shamefully dismembred the Turkes in the meane time vpbraiding them and saying That faith was not to be kept with them that had so cruelly before dealt with them of HATVVAN This perfidious dealing much offended diuers of the better sort of the Turkes insomuch that some of them complained thereof vnto the Sultan who as is reported caused some of the chiefe authors thereof to be put to death and afterward by open proclamation commaunded that if any of the Turkes or Tartars had taken any of them prisoners they should forthwith set them at libertie Thus is the famous citie of AGRIA of long time a Christian bishops seat now become a sure receptacle for the Turkes and Infidels Whilest Mahomet thus lay at the siege of AGRIA the Bassa of BOSNA with certaine other of the Sanzacks thereabouts hauing raised a great armie came and besieged PETRINIA in the borders of CROATIA which he at his first comming so furiously battered by the space of seauen daies that it was of many thought not possible for it to hold out two daies longer In the meane time the lord Herbenstein and Leukowitz with all the power they could make out of CROATIA and WINDISMARCH came towards PETRINIA but hauing no meanes in so great hast to make a bridge ouer the riuer of Kulp they retired towards SISEG there to passe ouer The Turkes hearing of their retire and supposing them to haue fled for feare put six thousand horsemen ouer the riuer to pursue them vpon whom the Christians turning and charging them home ouerthrew them and hauing slaine many of them draue the rest headlong into the riuer where most of them perished The Christians neuerthelesse keeping on their way to SISEG there the next day by a bridge passed ouer the riuer and so marching towards PETâ—INIA and being come neere vnto the towne were encountred by eight thousand Turkes whom they also put to flight and by certaine prisoners there taken vnderstood that the Bassa the day before was risen from before the towne and gone which they at the first beleeued not but comming thither found it so to their owne good contentment and the great joy of the late besieged Maximilian the Generall marching on faire and softly from STRIGONIVM at length the seuenteenth of October came to CASSOVIA foure daies after that AGRIA was lost and there met with the Transyluanian prince who was come thither with eighteene thousand men and fortie field pieces to aid him of whom eight thousand were mercinarie horsemen fifteene hundred were of the nobilitie of his countrey and the rest footmen The next day after they setting forward from CASSOVIA joyned themselues with the rest of the armie led by the